Update and Baking Frenzy Pictures

I had a most wonderful time at our Women's Officer's Retreat earlier this week. I took Mary and Paul cared for the other children.  I am hearing story after story of all the fun they had together and the evenings full of adventure- sleepovers, Wii battles, spaghetti-o's, and more.  I was a  little disappointed to miss David's big speech and demonstrations at school, but he filled me in. 

 It is always a good thing for me to be gathered with like-minded women.  I just plain need that!  I also celebrated my 34th birthday there, by just happening to go have High Tea at the Historic Heathman Hotel in downtown Portland, joined by three other fabulous women salvation army officers. 

Now, after only being gone 2 1/2 days, I am trying to play catch-up at the Corps and at home. 

I went through some pics and forgot that I never did share much about our Christmas

.... it was a wonderful couple of days, no sickies and much rest and relaxation. 

Except for my Christmas Eve Baking Frenzy!  I think I was trying to make up for lost time!

I love my kitchen aide mixer. 

Rachel + KitchenAide= True love forever and always

Making the famous MIL fudge, also her mother's.

She gave me the fudge-pot, spoon, and recipe years ago.

THIS is one area of which Paul always compares me to his mother.

I don't mind though, he's right- her fudge is always better anyway.

 I come in a close second though ;)

I ended up freezing a lot of our goodies. 

I just went way overboard, like I do so well.

You Know You're a SA Woman Officer

You Know You're  A Salvation Army (Woman) Officer when...

you have pantyhose strategically placed in your office, car, and purse

your children come home from school with canned food in their backpacks to donate to the food drive

you silently pray that the visitors don't walk out when you approach the pulpit

your pillow talk with hubby too often turns to the Corps (church)

you buy your house decorations in neutral colors so that they will match wherever you live

your Spring cleaning is subconciously your "in case we get moved" cleaning

your kids start calling you "Captain Mommy" so they can fit in with the Corps (church) kids better

you have your uniforms classified into 3 groups- office, church, and special events-  based on the wear, tear, and fit (or is that just me?!)

you have learned to just bite your tongue and quit explaining when people call you the "Pastor's Wife", afterall that is one of our roles

you consider your Corps people surrogate family because yours live so far away

you can be at the store growling at your children one minute and letting someone cry on your shoulder the next, and then go back to growling (all in a days work! ha!ha!)

you are your children's Pastor, Sunday School teacher,Youth Activities leader, and more  (they get a LOT of us!)

your office has a desk, computer, books, program supplies, files AND a playpen, toys strewn all over, children hiding under the desk,a musky dirty diaper smell to it and your staff and people know to KNOCK before they come in or they may just see a bare breast (that could be just me too?! LOL!)

your toddler points to the portrait of William Booth and calls him "Grandpa"

you generally go through 3 changes of clothes a day- uniform, civies, lounge/jammies

you've walked lopsided through a Sunday because you put two different sized high-heels on

you're consumed with the pursuit of Jehovah and His Way

you are daily guided, (but still sometimes need reminded!), by this:    God has given you a passion to reach men, women, children and in-between-   with the miraculous message of salvation from sin and hell

*I thank you Lord for the privelege of serving you. 

I know you don't really need me at all,

 but I'm so glad you want me.*

Dinner Tonight:  Chicken (crockpot), Salad, Pears, Hawaiin Rolls, trying to think of a yummy dessert still

IT NEVER FAILS...

It never fails....

that as soon as I get the kids all bundled up in their snowgear, someone has to go pee

that I can spend hours preparing for a program and yet all I hear are complaints about the coffee being too strong

that the very night after my monthly bed washing, someone pukes or pees or boogers all over

that I can do 100 things right that go unnoticed, but the one thing I do wrong is the one thing that IS noticed and harped on again and again and again (such as "Capt. Rachel.. you forgot to buy water for the Corps")

that the moment I'm drifting off to sleep, someone needs something

that when I'm in a hurry to be somewhere at a certain time, Mary explodes in her diaper or someone gets hurt and needs extra lovin'

that as soon as I get done vacuuming, someone wants to play with play-dough

that when the kitchen floor is sparkling clean, someone tracks mud all through it

that people never cease to amaze me, in good ways and bad

that as imperfect as this life can be--- it feels perfect to me

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverb 16:9

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TOO....

Thanks to a generous Christmas gift, we were able to get away for a couple days to Portland.  What a wonderful time we had!  Of course, I like to overlook the bad stuff (ie- "head in the clouds") - like 2 of our children throwing up, a very long drive home due to a snow storm, 3 HUGE poopy messes, and waking up about 15 times a night (which happens when you have 7 people in a room).  But even with that... it was still SOO enjoyable and I just love when our family is confined to small spaces (motel room and van) because it forces us to be together and usually ends up with much laughter and an even better understanding of each other.

We stayed at the Oxford Suites, which has been our favorite hotel for a couple years now.  It comes with a fully cooked to order  breakfast and a light dinner complete with fancy soda drinks for the kids.  It has an indoor heated pool and spacious rooms. It is such a great place for large families that I recommend it to everyone.  The rooms each night can be a little costly ($80 +) BUT when you include breakfast, dinner, and swimming galore, it ends up being a fantastic deal. 

We took a trip to ChuckECheese, our new favorite one in Vancouver.  Again, another great deal for us because it ends up being about 3 hours of FUUUUN and a big lunch for under $45. 

And theeeeeen....  my most favorite find of all... was the $3 movie theatre right near the ChuckECheese.  We went to the movies for $15!!!!  Two year olds and under are free.  We paid another $15 for snacks.  We rarely go to the movies, maybe like twice a year as a family and maybe two more times a year for "date-night".  We saw "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs" which was quite enjoyable!  A very cute movie, (even if you are juggling an 8 month old on your lap!)

And... while driving around, we found a KMart that was going out of business and like I say... "their loss, our gain" (hee!hee!).  We went in and I found a few clothing items for the children very cheap and Paul found some liquid plumber or something like that.

We did lots of swimming, playing, visiting, and just plain relaxing after such a busy Christmas season for us. 

I feel refreshed.   I'm the type of person that has to flat out leave town in order to feel re-charged and rested.  Otherwise household chores call me and work at the Corps calls me and I don't truly feel like I have "permission" to relax.  When we get away... aaaaaahhhh... it just gives me an extra spring in my step.

As soon as we hit the door, I spent half an hour getting the kids all suited up for snow play.  Now they are out sledding and playing while Mary and I get some of this laundry done, much of which has puke and poop. Paul went to go check the Corps.  After 2 whole days away, I'm sure it burnt down (jk!).  I will head in with the boys Saturday to set-up for Church and Sunday School since I didn't get to it this week.

It is good to be home on this last day of 2009.  I have been doing a lot of reflecting about what I want for my new year.   I am really seeking the Lord about some of the things on my heart;  mainly about simple living and intentionally doing the things that are most important in my life of child-rearing, keeping the home and salvation army ministry.  I hope to post about it soon.  

Until then, I wish all my dear family and dear friends a very fabulous New Years Eve.  Perhaps you may be able to spend it with your loved ones and have some time to share about some of the most significant things in your life that has happened in 2009.  Whether  they were good times or bad times, or some of both, perhaps you can thank the Lord for constantly drawing you to Himself and refining you to be entirely His.

PS... Just when I was just about to post this, a friend came by and dropped off some Butterhorns!  I am excited to try them!  Thank you so much *D*!  You made my day.   The kids will be enjoying them with some hot cocoa when they come in from the snow.  I think I'll go sneak one for myself first...

Snow Days

Christmas began last night!

There has been a lot of secret keeping among the Chouinards.

I've got so many in my head to sort out that I'm afraid I might tell a secret to someone I wasn't supposed to.

So... I told the children this morning... I'm done spilling the beans! 

Santa came to visit last night!!  You should've seen Hannah's face when she opened the door!

(My camera has been acting funny, so I didn't get that many good shots)

Hannah ran to the top of the stairs with everyone else

because she was both excited and leary at the same time.

*F* played her violin for Santa.

Santa brought presents and everything!!

Santa double-checked that he gave out all the presents.

What a fun filled evening!

THANK YOU to our two lovely friends from church and their daughter!

It was such a special and memorable treat for us all!

Christmas- Salvation Army Style

1200 people served Thanksgiving Dinner

1 Starlight Parade Float

6 Bellringers

3 Service Club Bellringers

1 Corps Day of Bellringing

1 Advisory Board Day of Bellringing

Countless kettle counting

2 ELFF Nights (collecting 23,000 non-perishable foods)

325 Nursing Home Gifts

225 Christmas Food Boxes

435 Children who received Christmas Gifts through our Social Services

30 Corps (Church) Children who received Christmas Gifts

85 Corps, Church, and Advisory Board  who received Adult Christmas Gifts

30 Women's Ministries Gifts

78 Foster Children Christmas Gifts

65 Sr/Disabled Gifts

Thousands of generous donors

4 Advent Sundays

26 (2 more to go!) Jesse Tree Ornaments (just the Chouinards)

3 Corps Related Christmas Parties

1 Christmas Service

2 Class Parties (David's and Elijah's)

2 Teacher Gifts

95 Christmas cards

4 Christmas Performances (3 Chouinard children)

30 volunteers

10 Employees

5  Salvation Army Officer Children

2  Corps Officers

Potatos, Re-Furbished Bikes and Turkeys

Toys and my baby girl

Food Boxes

Bread and Turkey Roasters

more food boxes.

1 Baby Jesus, God with us