How to stay sane...

When your house goes from only you to 4 people overnight!

My lovely brothers and sister have come for a visit... Taylor, Rhys and Aaron are all here for the week. This is fabulous and so what I need and I like to think also what they need. The thing is, my schedule hasn't changed - it is still the middle of the summer with a full week of programming with 110 people on site ahead of me. The other things is - I'm still tired with no solid sleep time in sight. And we have a wedding this weekend in Vernon for a cousin (yay!) followed quickly by the start of our final week of programming! The season is full right now.

I'm grateful for the energy my brothers and sisters bring with them and the way they are able to be both mature and fun at the same time. We hit a few road blocks once in a while (getting up in the morning - eek!). So in preparation for their arrivial I tried as hard as I could to make sure that things were as organized as possible. Here are a few of the ways I attempted to do just that:

- We're all eating meals in the dining room on site, this is great because it means no food preparations, cooking and clean-up for me. But kids still want to eat snacks! On my counter is a container of all the "odds and ends" from my cupboard that they can enjoy at any time, including: trail mix, crackers, rice cakes, rye crackers, peanut butter, nutella, granola bars, etc... And in my fridge: pickles, pepperoni sticks, cheese sticks and sliced watermelon. And they grab something when they need it.

- A laundry basket is in a central location for all dirty clothes... once this basket is full laundry must be done ASAP!

- They are all registered in programming at Sorrento Centre. Why?! Because otherwise they'd be inside all day while I'm working and they'd end up so bored. I'm hoping for a flexible enough schedule that I'll be able to spend chunks of time with them in the afternoons. But if I can't, they are old enough to go to the beach (lifeguards on duty) and play around site without me.

- I'm aiming for a 10:30pm bedtime - earlier if possible! This means technology off, lights out and heads on pillows! The kids arrived at my house with their summer sleep schedule... stay up all night and sleep all morning/afternoon. Well, let's just say breakfast is served at 7:30am these days!!! So an early bedtime is a must! (If not for them... then for me!)

- I've entered into the week thinking about fun and flexibility. We all need to have fun but we also need to all be able to live with some flexibility. On my end (that work project CAN wait until a different time) and on their end (oh, Melissa needs to ditch basketball for a few moments and go help someone at the office).

It's already off to being a great week and we're having a great time together!

Pizza Dough Recipe

Pizza Making... Gluten Free

Aaron and Taylor choose toppings 

So, I love to bake and I love to cook. I also fully believe that our young people (in today's case my family) should be engaged in the process of this creative creating. And that can't be fully enjoyed without some level of chaos!

I also love pizza. Like seriously, if someone would give me permission to eat pizza everyday I probably would. Pepperoni and mushroom; chicken, spinach and feta; spinach, artichoke and feta; roasted garlic, chicken, pesto... the list goes on and on. Mushrooms, olives, pepperoni, chicken, spinach and lots of cheese.

So, the fact that I love to bake and cook and that I love pizza means that when the kids come over I love to make pizza with them. And there is nothing as exciting as making personal sized pizza - each making there own! (Okay, I make the dough!)

Ready for the oven

I make a gluten free pizza dough because I can. Because at one time my love for baking was disappearing as it was just not challenging enough. I knew the ingredients I mixed in the bowl would turn out - there was no uncertainty in it. The excitement is back as I keep trying out recipes with flours and ingredients that I know nothing about and stir mixtures with this slight fear that it might all flop (that wouldn't be the first time!).

Okay, now that is all out of the way - back to what is most important!

Pizza's done baking

This is the best pizza dough I've made to date, so, so good! And it was easy. It is a yeast dough (my last recipes have not been) so deciding to make it 30 minutes before dinner will not work. It will require the necessary rising time! I commend this recipe to you - currently I'm planning on baking some more and freezing it for those days when I decide it's a pizza night 30 minutes before dinner.

I made two batches which made five personal pizza's out of it.
The recipe is below but be sure to visit Nicole's website: www.glutenfreeonashoestring.com and the direct link to the recipe here.

Enjoy!!


Pizza Dough
2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup warm water (about 100 degrees F)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (plus an extra tablespoon or two for drizzling)

1. In a medium-size bowl or the bowl of your food processor, place the flour, xanthan gum, yeast, sugar, and salt and stir to combine.
2. To the flour mixture, add the 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the water in a steady stream, either pulsing in a food processor or mixing with a spoon or fork to combine. If you are using a food processor, pulse while streaming in the water, until a ball begins to form. Otherwise, stir constantly while streaming in the water and continue stirring until the mixture begins to come together. If the dough seems super sticky, add some more flour a tablespoon at a time, and stir or pulse to combine. Press the dough into a disk.
3. Place the dough in another medium-size bowl and drizzle it with olive oil. Turn the dough to coat it with oil. This will prevent a crust from forming on the dough while it is rising. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm, draft-free area to rise until doubled in volume (about 1 hour).
4. After the dough has risen, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour before rolling it out.
5. To make pizza, roll between two pieces of plastic wrap. Create a crust by rolling in the edges, brush the dough with olive oil, and blind bake it at about 400 degrees F (that is, bake it plain, before topping it) for 5 to 7 minutes, sot he crust begins to crisp. Then, top it with sauce, cheese, and whatever else you have in the fridge, and return it to the hot oven until the cheese is melted, another 5 to 7 minutes.

Enjoy your Pizza!

Wordless Wednesday

I love this photo. Taylor took it when the kids were at my house in Sorrento a few weeks ago. Doesn't it just say everything that needs to be said? 

Ten on Tuesday: Merry Christmas!

Ten on Tuesday being completed on Wednesday!

The view outside my patio windows. 

1) Firstly, Merry Christmas!!

2) We had a white Christmas all around. My home in Sorrento has tons and tons of snow and the family home in Savona also has lots of lovely snow. It really is beautiful.

3) On Saturday I got to shovel some snow from in front of the Cathedral. I know this should sound tedious and like a chore but it actually was a lovely break from the "normal". It was nice to do repetitive activity - the night was quiet and peaceful. The slowly falling snow had stopped. And the geese sang their lovely song high above the thick fog. Following this peace filled activity was the Holy Table Holy Word service at the Cathedral filled with scripture, song, silence and the sharing of the Holy Meal.

4) The kids spent two weekends with me over the month of December - it was so wonderful to have them up in Sorrento, to have fun with them and to spend hours of play in lots and lots of snow! I'll write more about this in the coming week or so as well as share the pizza recipe that we tackled with great success!

5) Christmas Eve was a marvelous night at the Cathedral with a very simple and yet oh so amazing sharing of the Christmas story by our children. I loved it. And I loved even more how many children who are not from the Cathedral community joined us in telling the story... how many children felt comfortable enough to join us in that story sharing. This is Christmas.

6) It will never be "normal" to attend Christmas Eve services on my own without my family, but I am so grateful for the family I have in the Cathedral community. The family with whom I don't feel so alone.

7) My family gathered together in Kamloops for Christmas Eve celebrations that were fun, high energy and filled with excited children. It was a lot, a lot of good but also just simply "a lot" at the same time.

8) Christmas Day started with sleeping in until 8am - this was a first and oh so very much appreciated. And of course the day was filled with piles of wrapping paper, much joy and excitement and a delicious dinner.

9) This is the first Christmas in a few years that has all of us children together. It's great and of course has also resulted in family photo taking... photos soon!

10) I'm kind of glad that the "big-major-crazy" part of Christmas is over so that the slower pace of the celebration of the birth of the little babe can be enjoyed.

Seventeen on Saturday

1. I stayed up for 37 hours from 9:30am on Holy Saturday to 10:30pm on Easter Sunday. Was this a good idea, I have no idea. Was it worth it? Totally!

2. I have never been awake for that many hours before. Ever. And I have no yearning to go beyond that many hours of “wakeness”.

3. I would never recommend someone with Easter Sunday morning liturgical commitments to have an Easter “wakover” with youth the night before. Not unless you’re superman/superwoman.

Peaceful water

4. It was wonderful to gather with family on Easter Sunday for dinner. First time I saw my grandparents since February. Even with the 12 grandchildren who were there we still felt the missing presence of the 3 who were unable to make it. And we really missed them. When the “kids” begin to grow up things seem a bit weird!

5. The conversations that my family has with me at these large family gatherings have not changed: marriage plans, boyfriend plans, school plans, career plans, and church. And no – I’m not the one initiating them and no, almost none of those topics have plans!

6. Traveling immediately after Easter when you’ve been awake for too many hours is very silly. That being said, missing the last week of classes is also silly – oops!

7. And yet I’d do it again, exhaustion and all. Being with the Vision 2019 Implementation Team and engaging with the work and the people made it all totally worth it.

8. Actually, I’ve just arrived home and I’m missing Toronto already – the work and especially the people and conversations that took place.

9. My classes are over, my first exam is on the 17^th and I have one more paper to write and handed in one yesterday afternoon. I picked up books that came in through the library this morning… that means that I now have four books to read– my life of reading and writing begins today!

10. I’m really missing Toronto… really missing it. I kinda sorta wish I wasn’t already at home.

11. I went to bed early last night, which I really needed… sleep was wonderful!

12. I’m trying to figure out how much I can get done today and how much will need to wait until tomorrow. I wish that papers would just write themselves.

Easter Gift

13. Anticipating making a cauliflower crust pizza tonight with my roommate and super, super excited!

14. After I tackle a huge chunk of work today I’m headed to see Titanic with some friends… excited!

15. I’ve realized that in just over two weeks I’ll be moving to Sorrento Centre and I’m mixed with excitement and the feeling of not being completely ready.

16. I received this lovely gift from a good friend in the midst of Holy Week… it made me smile and reminded me not to let the small things bring me down.

17. I’m going to go face Milton now… pray for me. :P  

Energy filled Weekend

Aaron at the playground!

Taylor, Rhys and Aaron spent the weekend at my place, it was an energy and fun filled weekend! Of course that much energy and fun also means that a few moments of quiet and deep breathing are required!

I love having them over: it is so much fun to look at the world through their eyes, to sit and read them a bedtime story and to do all the many things that they find excitement and joy in.

Friday night was low key... we had dinner, cleaned up and put on a movie and enjoyed one another's company.

Saturday was a very full day! It started my absolute favorite way; the way it starts morning when the kids are here. Aaron quietly sneaks into my room and whispers to me, "can I take your laptop?" I open my eyes, tell him that he can and then he picks up my laptop and sneaks back out the door... silently closing the door behind him. And then I sleep for about another hour. Why don't I just leave my laptop on the table for him? Because there is something beautiful about the oh so respectful and generous wake-up from him!

Pizza Making!

We went a saw "Mirror, Mirror" at the theatre, ran a few errands and then headed to the park in order to get rid of some energy. We got home and I started making pizza dough at which time the kids informed me that they wanted crackers, cheese, cucumber and strawberries while watching a movie. They decided that having pizza later would mean that they would get to stay up later. So I decided to take off down to the Cathedral to attend the last Holy Table, Holy Word service for the season - a service of prayer, scripture, silence, community and Eucharist. After a day of being with two roughhousing brothers this was exactly what I needed! And the kids having time away from me was also probably what they needed!

I came home and we made some amazing pizza's! They turned out great and it was so much fun to watch them decide what to put on it and how much to put on. And then to watch them enjoy the food that they prepared themselves... I love it!

Breakfast: Green eggs, turkey bacon and toast!

Sunday we got up and I made them green eggs and turkey bacon! The best way to make green eggs (I've since discovered) is to puree spinnach and egg together and then scramble it up! They come out so very green. And the kids loved it... Aaron was rather disgusted when he learned (after the fact) that it was made with spinach. We headed to church and then came home and decorated the twenty-two eggs we had blown out over the weekend. This too was fun to watch them be creative with...

Now that everyone is home and the second to last week of school is about to begin I am looking forward to cleaning the house, resting and then tackling the way to much homework that needs to be completed. I am also looking forward to the journey through Holy Week, the journey with Jesus to the cross and then into the great light of the resurrection!

Final lighting of the Advent Candles

Advent Candles - Christmas Morning

Christmas has come and the celebrations are over. I share with you two pictures. The first is the final lighting of the Advent Candles - all five are now lit, the Christ Child has arrived. Worship this Christmas Eve was wonderful and powerful. Our 4pm family service at the Cathedral was filled with so many children and a wonder sharing of the Christmas story. And for the first time in my life I got to be a sheep - so much fun! (Getting to be a sheep with my two year old friend from church just made the evening that much more magical!) The 11pm candlelight service was also wonderful, different feeling then the 4pm with a powerful message. I like both the services and very much like being within the Cathedral community on this special night of celebration.

Christmas Morning picture

I spent time with the family between services and then after the 11pm service. And of course I got the late night shift with Taylor and Rhys who decided that not sleeping was a very good idea. I think we finally fell asleep around 3:30am. And then at 6:30am all the alarm clocks went off... thank you Taylor! We spent the morning together with mom and then went home to spend the rest of the day with dad. It was a good day with good company and good food.

We missed Deana this year. This was our first Christmas where one of us kids was not present. Deana was in Edmonton with her boyfriend and his family. We look forward to seeing her in the spring. So, this second picture is of us kids together on Christmas morning... yes, we had another brown Christmas.

Weekend Visitors

Taylor, Rhys and Aaron

For the first time since I moved back into Kamloops after spending the summer at Sorrento Centre Taylor, Rhys and Aaron came for a weekend sleepover. They are growing up, really quickly. It won't be long before they are all taller then me. It won't be long before they are all wiser then me. But, they will always be my youngest siblings even when they get to that age when I am no longer "cool" to hang out with!

We had a great weekend together. They came bowling with the youth group on Friday night, we spent Saturday painting, shopping and swimming and Sunday was filled with Church and lunch with Stewart.

Our painted creations!

Painting was the big task for the weekend. The basement suite I'm living in this year (which I love) has really bare walls. So, I picked up some paint and canvas and gave the kids the all important task of painting lovely pictures for my walls. And that is exactly what they did! On Friday night I told them that they needed to think of what they wanted to paint... "you can paint anything you want," I told them. Saturday morning Aaron said to me, "I can paint anything I want?" "Yep, anything you want," I said. After a few moments of thinking he turned to me and said, "I can paint the stairs?" Wait a minute!! He thought we were painting the walls! Am I ever glad that I didn't just put the paint on the table and go do something else... that would have been interesting!

Stewart came over for lunch and a visit on Sunday after church. It was wonderful to spend time with Stewart and the kids were really excited to see him. Stewart and I looked through some pictures of our childhood years - I must admit... we were pretty cute toddlers!

I did a lot of cooking with my crock pot over the weekend. My first roast beef in the crock pot turned out just amazing - so tender and delicious. And then Sunday morning I put sloppy joe stuff in before heading to church and we had an amazing lunch when we got home! I love my crock pot... it's amazing!

The weekend was great and I can't wait for the kids to come over again... although I have decided I'm never having triplets. Going from having responsibility for zero children to three children is exhausting!

Strawberries and Cream

Ah, I've fallen in love... with fresh strawberries and cream. And when I say fresh strawberries I mean they are fresh! Sorrento Centre has a farm (www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca), and in its second season the farm is now producing strawberries and the staff tonight got to enjoy the first pick. Fresh, sweet, beautiful, amazing strawberries covered in a light coat of smooth cream. The perfect dessert for Sunday and the perfect end to an amazing weekend.

A few other amazing things took place this weekend. The first, my three youngest brothers and sisters spent the weekend with me in Sorrento. Taylor, Rhys and Aaron joined me on Friday night and left for Savona just before dinner this evening. We had a weekend of adventures,

walks, basketball, movie watching, enjoying treats, lots of time outside, fun in the sun and a whole lot of laughter and conversation. I miss them. It was way to much fun to have them here and just be. There was no competition, no grumpiness, no impatience, just full on deep joy and fun. I love being with my brothers and sisters and one of the hardest thing is not being with them for so much of the summer. Although, even harder is saying goodbye after an amazing weekend visit when I know that I probably won't see them for at least a month. Thank goodness for today's technology!

Sorrento Centre was privileged to have John Bell, an internationally known songwriter, here for the weekend. He came as a gift to us to do a fundraiser for our farm/Sorrento Centre after spending a week with us last year. John Bell is amazing. And his music, equally amazing. I could go on forever about how wonderful it was to have him here and spend a few hours singing with him and a group of folks (including a lovely group from the Cathedral!).

So, my advise for you at the end of this weekend... go find some fresh strawberries and a bit of cream and enjoy the taste of summer!

Snowfall and New Years Pictures

Today was one of those beautiful snow filled days. It started coming down this morning and continued until late this evening. I hope that I never stop enjoying each moment I get to spend outside in the snow, I even enjoyed shoveling the driveway this afternoon. It is always just so fluffy, soft, peaceful, and full of calm joy. It falls everywhere adding the pure white color to everything in sight. So much beauty!

Along with today's beautiful snowfall I had some errands to run including getting this semesters textbooks. Seven novels for one course, otherwise things weren't bad. Here's to forming a loving relationship with this semesters books!! I start classes next week, so this is my last week of holiday's and I plan on reading some more, resting, preparing for the semester and getting some youth plans for the coming months down on paper!

For now, here are some of the pictures from the New Years Eve gathering with the kids! Enjoy!

Preparing snacks, lounging around, Jan. 1st game of Quelf!

Decorating wine glasses for our sparkling juice to ring in the New Year!

Aaron, Oliver, and Rhys even after staying up late engage in Wii Dance while I make breakfast for ten!

Christmas and New Years Adventures...

It has been an amazing Christmas season starting with great worship on Christmas Eve while surrounded by wonderful friends and now I’ve just ended a marvelous New Years Eve celebration with my youngest brothers and sisters, cousins, and some long time friends!

Christmas Day saw all of us children together for the first time in almost a whole year, which is very sad but was also just completely joyous! I suppose this is the part of us older kids growing up… I definitely always seem to be off at some meeting, busy with school, or engaging in some piece of ministry… so I’m not helping with the "being present often" task!! So, we took the advantage of being together and got a few family pictures taken. The weather was fall-like with no snow in site so our pictures look like they were taken in the fall. But they turned out really good, yes, of course our group pictures did not have everyone looking in the same place at once and so on and so forth… but there are eight of us – one can only ask for so many miracles at a time!

I spent the days after Christmas sleeping, playing with the children, being the big-sister/house-making type person, and reading. Oh how completely lovely it was to read novels that are not on a required reading list… it has been months since I delved into such pleasure! Reminded me of how important and amazing it is!

I came back to my house in Kamloops on Wednesday hoping to run some errands but ended up sleeping almost the whole entire day, I must have needed it. And it didn’t help that a horrible headache took over. Ah, well as I was reminded a day of “nothingness” can be important every once in a while! So Thursday was my massive “prepare for New Years Eve” day and it was exhausting… the stores were packed full of people – and we all know how much I enjoy that…

So, New Years Eve this year… well, I hosted what I have been informed is the annual party this year at my place in Kamloops. So I currently have my four youngest siblings, three cousins, and two long time friends at my house taking over beds and floor space… I have somehow been kicked out of my bed and bedroom and sent to the air mattress on the living room floor. 3:00am and I am still hearing moments of laughter and the sounds of distant movies playing. Now I wonder, will they sleep in? And when will I be required to make breakfast?

Ah, it is all in great joy and we’ve made wonderful memories. Shared dinner, laughed lots, watched movies, played games, ate way too many snacks, and rang in the New Year with our sticker decorated wine glasses and sparkling juice! It was great!

Now… maybe sleep? I’ll share pictures from tonight when I can think properly again…

2010 Family Pictures!

Family Pictures 2010! See how everyone's grown!! Yes, Wesley does appear to be taller then me! Enjoy! (Family update to come soon!) And - these were taking on Christmas Day... that is right... no snow...

Aaron... Grade 2.

7 Years old.

Rhys... Grade 4.

9 Years old.

Taylor... Grade 6.

11 Years old.

Wesley... Grade 9.

14 Years old.

Sara... Grade 11.

16 Years old.

Deana.... Grade 12.

18 Years old.

Stewart... Cooking!

20 Years old.

Me... 4th Year University &

Youth Coordinator

22 Years old.

New Years Eve and Winter Update

New Years Eve was amazing. Wesley, Taylor, Rhys, Aaron and our cousins Wylie, Brandy, Oliver, and Drew all joined together for a night of celebration. I of course found out I was hosting this amazing event just weeks before, and of course responded with complete excitement. I made tons of food, snacks of all kind from fruit to pizza bagels. We watched movies, played games, and had tons of fun together. We rang in the new year with sparkling apple juice in fabulous plastic cups. I was informed that I couldn't make anyone go to bed before 2am by Rhys, so I listened to him. It was great, it was peaceful, and it was fun. I truly can't imagine celebrating the new year any different.

My aunty Janice and I took my cousins Oliver and Travis, alo

ng with my brother Rhys on a great winter adventure. The earth was covered in ice, what was once a creek was ice. The boys had a ton of fun, and we all laughed when I successfully fell through the ice, it hurt, thankfully it wasn't that deep and I only had a bruise or two as a result. The most amazing image was when the sun was shinning on the snow and it all looked like diamonds. It was pure beauty. 

Sara, Deana, and Stewart

Sara is fourteen and in grade nine. She keeps busy with a million and one things it seems like and is working as a waitress at the Roadhouse Cafe in Savona. School is school and she enjoys spending time with all her friends. Sara is still as caring as she was when she was younger, and I don't think her love for animals will ever go away. 

Deana is sixteen and in grade eleven. She works also at the Roadhouse Cafe doing prep and cooking. Deana has been helping with youth group this year and is absolutely amazing to have with the group. She is looking forward to her last year of school and graduation which comes at the end of it!

Stewart is now eighteen and in his first year at Thompson Rivers University in the Culinary Arts program. He loves the program and is doing quite well in it. Stewart also lives in residence, so we get to see each other from time to time, which is very enjoyable, of course! He is also working part time during the school year, and already wondering where he will end up for his first apprenticeship this coming summer. 

And there you have it, a picture and short update on all the kids - definitely took me longer than I had planned but at last it is done!

Wesley

Wesley is very much a Forde. He loves being outside digging, biking, running, playing, sports, swimming, hiking, watching large digger things work and buildings being built. He is the one who will lend a hand with any handy job that needs to be done and would much rather be doing anything else if it means he can get out of homework... Typical Forde boy!

Wesley is in grade seven, twelve years old. I can't believe that he will be in high school next year, I remember when he was in Kindergarten and I had to go and comfort him because he didn't want to be there. Well, he has definitely grown up!

He is a regular attendee at youth group and plays on the community soccer and softball teams when they are happening. In the summer you will find Wesley at the beach. I see his future including some kind of a trade... maybe something in the building/electrical area of things, you know so if I ever run into issues he can come and help his older sister out who will probably still know nothing of those areas!

Still can't believe he'll be in grade eight next year... they grow up all so fast!!

Taylor

Taylor... Taylor is still very much the youngest girl in our family. With an older brother and two younger ones she is right in the middle, and she deals with it amazingly! The boys, are well boys, and Taylor is, well a princess of sorts. But she knows how to speak up, and chase down those boys when they are being... boys. Taking after me I guess, must always know how to pin a brother down to the floor when necessary! 

Taylor is in grade four, nine years old, and growing up quickly. She loves school and learning and does very well in all areas. She also can not wait to be able to join youth group... next year!! Weekly Taylor tries to convince me to let her, and unfortunately I can't because I would then have to let everyone else!

Taylor has taken a liking to photography, taking many pictures both indoors and outside with her new camera. It has opened a new area of joy in her life. She also loves coming to church and participating in Sunday school, and she gets along with almost everyone - old and young!

She likes doing quiet things but also enjoys playing outside or with the boys. She loves horses and is always willing to lend  hand. Taylor and I have a pretty close relationship with each other, probably because she is the youngest girl and I am the oldest girls. And we are both kind of quiet, at least when we want to be!