I'm leaving on a jet plane......

Well, we are here in Nampa, Idaho (yes.... potato central) for about 1 month while Phil spends most of his days in a plane, flying/landing/taking-off in all sorts of conditions and terrain in order to prepare him for the diversity he'll experience as a pilot in Chad, Africa. Kailtyn, Lily and myself are here to support Phil as he trains......we get to have a lot of fun, relax, meet new friends, soak up the sun and explore the city of Nampa. So far we've hit up the beyond massive WALMART (seriously, that store is a city in itself!!), and made our way across town to a dollar store to purchase some craft supplies.....all of which we would have never found had it not been for our trusty GPS. (okay, so phil would have found them.....but I would still be driving around if it weren't for the GPS!!!!)

The place we are staying in is super nice, comfortable and just the right size for our little family of 4. Our front door opens up into the sandpit/playground which is a dream come true for the girls....and there are a bunch of kids living here as well so instant friends!! 

I think we will enjoy our time here....on the menu for tomorrow is visiting the local library for a story time.....and if the weather is as good as today.....we'll hunt for a park with swings for sweet Lily who would live/eat/sleep on a swing if she had the chance too! :)

There are two other families with 3 kids each, and both are missionaries in the Congo.....we look forward to getting to know them a bit better during our stay here.

Here are a few pictures from Phil's point of view documenting our way down to Nampa.....oh and ps if you are wondering why i am looking less than impressed in every picture....it is because I was feeling so sick (coughing up a lung!!) and just wishing to be in my bed sleeping.....but I survived and made it here and now I am feeling a whole lot better!

** the pictures work sometimes, but not other times....argh!! sorry if you can't see the pics.....I'll try to get phil to look at it and fix it!!**

6am: Bright and early breakfast – hot waffles, omelettes, yogurt and fruit loops for Kaitlyn! 

7am: The girls loved the “big bus” shuttle and the fact that they didn’t have car seats for the short trip across to the airport.

So much to see. Shrieks of delight at 7:30am every time another plane…did anything. Other passengers already hoping our row numbers are far apart!

Kaitlyn ready to “go fast”.

Merilee…grinning and bearing it…haha. She was more prepared than the stewards. Made for a very smooth flight. The atlantic crossing is starting to look doable…perhaps enjoyable?

Handy colouring pages. These all in one colouring kits deserve a medal. They shone today!

Many books...

…and you can get a good 20 minutes out of the doomsday card if you spin the story right. Lily kept wanting me to tell the part about the baby’s life jacket and wondering where the Mommy was in the pictures. The built in slides were compelling as was the fact that you can float on your seat cushion. I’d love to know what’s going through their heads when I’m explaining these “cartoons” to them and end it with…but that probably won’t happen.

End of flight #1. Detroit to Denver. The crowning moment: meeting the pilots and seeing the cockpit…the girls enjoyed it too. That one was 3.5 hours.

The next flight was only 2 hours from push back to touch down…Franklin’s turn to baby sit.

February in Review

Another month has flown by, and I must admit, I did not take as many pictures as I should have. It is amazing how 29 days can go by and I wonder what we did? Besides Valentines Day, and Phil being away for a week at the end, the days just flew by without too much excitement. We have enjoyed a lot of park time as there has not been a lot of snow or severely cold temperatures (nope...don't miss Alberta winters at all!!), and Kaitlyn also finished her swimming lessons. Lily and Kaitlyn spend a lot of time playing with each other, and get along for the most part.....At any given time, at least one of the girls will be wearing a) a Princess Dress, b) a swimsuit, c) nothing!! :) I'm so glad they have each other for this stage of our lives, with travelling often, they don't have the kind of friends they had in Three Hills to play with.  Homeschooling is going well now that we have our schedule set and I have a better idea of what I am sopposed to be teaching Kaitlyn. We are over halfway through the alphabet, and Kaitlyn has been reading 2 words (ie: Bat) that I write out for her each day on her own (sounding them out) which is a good start. I wonder when she will be able to read her first book to herself?!

Here's a snapshot of what we did in February:

Making Heart-shaped Cupcakes for Valentines Day

Place a marble in the muffin tin for a heart shaped cupcake!

Practising her letters

Lily painting her wooden monkey notebook

Kaitlyn LOVES arts and crafts!

Making "boo-tiful" cupcakes :)

Valentines Day Sweetness

Tea Party!

My sweet Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn was so excited about her mask,
but quickly realized she needed a cape to complete the look!

Wedding # 300......it is a daily occurrence in our house! 

This time they managed to recruit a Prince.....

Face Painting Fun

Do you see any similarities? 

Kaitlyn had to be a cat too.

Adventures in the Kitchen: Week 3 - Veggie Lasagna

I was in the mood for some comfort food......so I thought let's make pasta!!! But keeping health in mind I wanted to avoid the fatty cheese/sauces and get my vegetable intake in, so I went on the hunt for a scrumptious veggie lasagna.....and I found it!! This one made enough for 3 meals for a family of 4, so put the work in now, and freeze 2 extra meals for those nights you don't feel like cooking.
So here it is folks, your meal idea for tonight:

Adventures in the Kitchen: Week 3

Less-On-Ya Lasagna
Prep: 25 min    Serves: 10-12  

Not my picture (forgot to take one again!)
but isn't your mouth watering right now? :)

3 Cups sliced mushrooms
2 Medium Zucchini's unpeeled and chopped
1 Yellow Pepper, chopped
1 Red Pepper, chopped
1 Red onion, chopped
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
1 Teaspoon balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 Teaspoon each dried rosemary; dried oregano
1 Cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 Cup low-fat (1%) Cottage cheese
1/3 Cup Parsley
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1 egg white
12 Lasagna noodles*
3 Cups Spaghetti Sauce
1 1/2 Cups part-skim Mozzarella Cheese shredded

1. Mix mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, onion, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, rosemary and oregano together, place in roasting pan uncovered at 400 for 25 min, stirring at halfway point.

2. While veggies are roasting, a) cook pasta,  b) prepare cheese mixture: Combine 1/4 Cup parsley, Parmesan Cheese, Egg white, Ricotta Cheese, Cottage Cheese  and mix well, refrigerate until ready to use.

3. Assemble Lasagna: 9 x 13 inch baking dish (spray with non stick spray), spread 1/4 of the spaghetti sauce over bottom of pan. Arrange 4 lasagna noodles over sauce. Spread 1/2 cheese filling over noodles, followed by 1/3 roasted veggies. Sprinkle 1/3 Mozzarella cheese over top. Repeat layering. Layer final 4 noodles over mozzarella, followed by remaining spaghetti sauce. Top sauce with remaining roasted veggies.

4. Cover with foil and bake @ 375 for 35 minutes.
* (If using oven ready noodles, change baking time to 1 hour)

5. Remove Lasagna from oven, sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and parsley, return to oven uncovered, for 5 minutes.

6. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.  (Important to follow this last step as it helps the lasagna stick together and absorb juices)

So, let's just say this was gobbled up in no time! Healthy veggies, comforting pasta/sauce combination and a scrumptious mix of low-fat cheeses are what made this meal a new favorite! The major bonus was that I was able to freeze 2 other dinners from this recipe......which made up for the work that I put into making this. All in all, a great dish but it takes some prep work to put it all together. 

~ Recipe taken from "Crazy plates" Cookbook by Janet & Greta Podleski ~

Off to Chad, Africa!

N'Djamena is the capital city where we will be living.

So, we are off to Chad after 7 years of waiting and wondering and imagining.....we are still processing it all with excitement, nervousness, anticipation and wonder about what our lives will look like over in Chad. As a mom and wife, thoughts swirl in my head: doubts mixed with courage, happiness and sadness, confidence mixed with a fear of failure.....all these emotions will be worked out in time I'm sure but for now.....slightly overwhelming. Chatting with Phil, (someone who is walking this crazy road with me) has been comforting; asking our friends to pray for us and most importantly, giving this overwhelming situation to my Father in prayer has helped me in the processing stage of our journey to Chad.

One thing we know for sure and that we are most definitely confident about is the fact that this is God's plan for our lives, He chose this place for us and will carry us through, whatever trials should come our way....He always has and we know He always will.
It has been a 7 year journey......from the time we quit our jobs in London, ON and drove across Canada in our 1987 brown Toyota Corolla ("the pooper") and headed for Prairie's Mission Aviation Program........2 kids, a lot of friends, ups and downs in our marriage, a commercial, IFR and Instructor rating under our belts, no debt (PRAISE GOD....it was a $60,000 program.....obviously God got us though that one) and now here we sit.......82% of the way through raising our monthly support needed to go to Chad, about to leave in June to Quebec City for 6 months to learn francais, and preparing our hearts to serve the people of Chad.

Typical road condition during rainy season....impassable.

But you know what? Despite some unsettling aspects about this country, Chad is actually a great place for us in so many ways......it has a Christian elementary school right in the city run by Africa Inland Mission (AIM) should we choose not to homeschool. The other pilot family that we will be living/working with has 6 kids (lots of girls), the youngest being Kaitlyn's age. The flight program is small, only 2 planes which is super attractive to Phil who didn't want to be part of a large flight program and wanted to continue flying small planes and be 'down in the dirt' with people.

After doing some research on our own, we have discovered that Chad has some huge needs. There are only 600km of paved roads in the entire country! So when rainy season hits 4 months out of the year.....the roads outside of the capital city are impassible, making aviation vital to the continuation of the many ministries working in Chad. It has the largest number of unreached people groups in Africa, and the literacy rate is a mere 25%. Poverty, a history of political instability, unrest between the Muslim north and the Christian animistic south and corruption have plagued this country for years......there is much work to be done.
So, Phil and I move forward, trusting that God has all the details worked out, and as long as we continue to move ahead, He will direct our steps. Not gonna lie.....sometimes I feel very freaked out......just so you know I am normal...no super Christian here....just a mother and wife trying her best, failing often but relying more on the One who set out this path for her. Details to come....it's gonna be a crazy ride.

Adventures in the Kitchen Week 2

Alright....this time I am venturing into the world of Quinoa (Keen-wa) for a "warm up your insides" kind of stew for a cold winter day. We ate this for lunch with some cut up veggies on the side.

Adventures in the Kitchen Recipe # 2

Quinoa, Carrot and Lentil Stew
Prep time: 10 min  Serves: 4

Not my picture but is the same yumminess as mine.

Ingredients
1/2 Cup Quinoa
1/2 Cup Red Lentils
4 Cups Vegetable or Chicken Stock
1 Cup Water
1 1/2 Cups Sliced Carrots
1 Cup Diced Red Onion (I used yellow onion)
2 Teaspoons Minced Fresh Garlic
1 Teaspoon Cumin
1 Teaspoon Coriander
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Diced Red Bell Pepper
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro (*I didn't include this)

Combine the quinoa, lentils, stock and water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes.
Add the carrots, onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, and salt and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the red pepper and cook 5 more minutes.
*Add the cilantro. Serve immediately.

Taken from Quinoa, the Everyday Superfood 365.

This is a recipe I have made twice now....and it was so good both times! The adults in my life loved it (hubs and mom-in-law and me!). As for the kids....Kaitlyn ate a kid sized bowl and seemed to like it enough to finish and after adding raisins Lily ate it til the raisins were all gone. You know what they say....keep trying and they may just end up liking it! No heat from spices, hearty and packed with 2 of nature's protein sources makes this stew a cheap, easy, healthy and yummy lunch.

Why a "wonderful life"?

Won-der-ful - [wuhn-der-fuhl]

1. excellant, great, marvellous

Waiting on God to direct our steps....sometimes ya need
to step into the rushing water first.....

2. of a sort that causes or arouses wonder; amazing; astonishing

Synonyms: awesome, wondrous, miraculous, astonishing, amazing, astounding, phenomenal, unique, curious, strange.

As I was thinking about what title to give my blog, the word wonderful popped into my head. I had to look it up and to my surprise it was fitting to describe what life is. Life is full of wonder and is miraculous. Each of us have unique lives, all of us not knowing just what is around the corner but trusting in God's ultimate plan for each of us. Easy? Nope. Curious, strange, amazing and wondrous? Yup. How fitting for this blog to be named the very word that describes what God has given to me......to all of us......a Wonderful Life.

Adventures in the Kitchen: Week 1

Meal Variety has always been a struggle for me. I have a fairly decent repertoire of meals that we circulate through but I am a bit bored with them. I've been making them now for almost 8 years.  So, I've decided to embark on a recipe finding adventure......my goal is to try (and post) at least one new recipe a week.....goals being healthy, fairly easy (using ingredients commonly found in any kitchen), and enjoyed by my food critics (my family!). I'll make sure to include honest and helpful reviews. Hope this helps you moms out there who are just as tired as me with Meatloaf Monday, Taco Tuesday.... :) 

Adventures in the Kitchen Recipe # 1

No-Fuss Moroccan Chicken

Prep Time: 15 min    Serves: 4    

Ingredients

1.5 lbs. of chicken halves (I used chic. breasts...I am a wimp when it comes to bones!)

2 T of oil (I used coconut oil)

1/2 Cup chopped onion

1 Garlic clove (I am a garlic junkie so I used 4 cloves, freshly pressed)

2 Cups Salsa (using mild, medium or hot salsa will determine how hot this dish will be)

1/2 Cup Water

Silly me, forgot to take a picture....so this one will have to do!
 Similar image minus the slivered almonds.

1/4 Currants (I substituted raisins...tasted great)

2 Tablespoons honey

1 1/2 Teaspoons Cumin

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 F. Brown chicken in oil and place in baking dish.

Lightly saute onions and garlic. Spoon over chicken.

Combine salsa, water, currants, honey, cumin and cinnamon in a bowl.

Pour over chicken. 

Cover and bake for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked through.

Serve with Rice or Couscous.

Rice is always a hit with my family, as is chicken. The girls ate a small helping as I unwisely used a medium heat salsa...a little too hot for tiny tongues. As for the adults, we agreed it was spicy but enjoyed the sweet surprise of the raisins and the flavor of this dish. I would make this dish again, but use mild salsa instead.