Also out of chronological order:

Jan. 24, 2013

Hello All!

We have so much going on in our very busy lives!  The busiest comes in the form of a little boy - who I will get to in a little bit!  Our lives today consisted of cardboard cars, pasta with zucchini, a new shiny iMac, Cat in the Hat, tabaggan rides, Boston BRUINS, pepsi and blogging!  :)  Busy, right? I would change it for anything!

Above I mentioned that we had fun with cardboard cars.  Well, I looked for N and he was playing with the diapers boxes, sitting in them and putting them on his head like a hat - all the while holding Danika's pink blanket.  :) So, I decided to cut the bottom out of the box and cut handles in the sides - voila! A car! I had to demonstrate for him and, for awhile, he was chasing me, laughing, while I made car noises and vroomed around the house.  Then he tried it and actually spent more time in there than I thought he would...having such a short attention span and all. After we played around a bit with the cars, we had supper.  MMhmm!  Scrumptious.  Spaghettini pasta with a tomato and basil sauce, which I altered and added a dallop or two of "Cooking with Philly's" cream cheese.  Then fried some pork to go with it!  Just delightful.

Earlier that afternoon, a package arrived for us - our shiny new iMac! Yes, which I am typing on right now! :) We are very excited about this new addition to our technology family.

....end post....

A post from awhile ago, totally out of chronological order, but I wanted to post it on here - cause it is fun to look back on!

Hey!  So, I have started this blog to keep friends and family up to date on our "goings-on".  It seems I am not able to keep a handwritten diary, so I am hoping that typing on my computer will give me an incentive to write more often.  Another factor in the inconsistency is the fact that Mark and I have a wonderful 20 month old, who loves trucks, kitchen cupboards, light switches, remotes, buttons and his little sister.  Which brings me to our 4 month old.  A delight, to be sure!  It doesn't matter who you are - any face will do - to bring a smile to that cute, chubby face.

Hubby and I brought in the New Year with high hopes for 2013.  A new house is in the making, renovations being completed on our current one, a warm vacation in the fall/winter, and two beautiful kids to raise!  Also, add lots of traveling and visiting to that list!  To start off the traveling part, Hubby is in a 15-passenger van filled with church guys, headed to Fernie, and the kids and I are off to Grandpa and Grandma's for the weekend.  

I am involved with coaching a Sr. Girls basketball team again this winter, and am doing my first solo coaching gig tonight!  The RJC home tournament brings plenty of competition and lots of heightened emotions.  I am looking forward to seeing how well I can bring all I know about the game and transfer it over to the girls' game.  A challenge to be sure! 

As I sit here, writing...typing...away, there are two men in my kitchen putting in our granite countertop!  :)  SO exciting! BB just woke up (9 am!!) and is sitting beside me chewing on dried mango pieces, watching the dinosaur train.  

That's all I have time for this morning!  My busy little one is wanting to play.  :)

Courtney

Good Evening friends...or is it morning?  Alright, it's morning.  But, the point is, I need to write some thoughts down.  Need to share.  I also had a good Caramel-flavored cup of coffee at my nephew's birthday party AND had a 3 hour nap this afternoon.  Needless to say, my mind would like to unload a bit - read if you dare!  He he.  This may get "Courtney at 12:30 am" messy.  

Today.  I love Sundays.  You know why?  I get to go to a place a love, visit with people I appreciate, lead songs with powerful messages to the God who created little ol' me.  It always hits me on Sunday mornings at church, sometimes I stop singing and just listen to the congregation sing.  Such a powerful sound of admiration and love.  

I also have this amazing Man in my life.  Daddy.  Husband.  Friend.  Helper.  Teacher.  Encourager.  Amazing BBQ-er.  You heard me right - we had lamb the other evening.  SU. Preme!  Mm!  Okay, back on topic....He is an amazing Man.  This morning, I had to leave the house nice and early to practice with the worship team, so He had to dress our 3 children, one of whom had spilled cereal all over the floor, feed them all - even the stubborn one who WILL NOT eat what we eat when we eat it - and then proceeded to take them to church on their bikes!  He rode my coral-hued cruiser - with its shiny teal rims and a bike seat - 3 blocks to church.  Kids in tow - or maybe in front.  They're getting faster!  

Had a BBQ at our church which is a really neat summer lunch option!  Visited with friends we hadn't seen in awhile and were able to give them a tour of the homestead.  :)  My oldest has said a few times today:  Mom, I love living here.  I agree, kiddo.  I agree.  Since the training wheels came off, we are riding our bikes a lot more and it has been a wonderful part of our summer!  

Foodie side of things:  I have a whole box of peaches waiting to be put in jars...I will let you all know how it goes!  As for right now, a bowl of cereal is calling my name and then my bed is next.  

Have a wonderful Monday, all!  I may even get to fall asleep to a lightshow and thunder lullaby.  

~ The Bloggary ~

Hello blogging world! 

I have been thinking and thinking and finally decided that I should no longer spam you with glorious pictures of my foodie-ness (Bryce and Matt) or pelt you with pictures of my adorable children.  Instead, I will blog here and post here so you can choose be be bombarded.  Nice of me, ain't it? 

I don't know how often I will post, but I would love to make it a regular and encouraging pasttime. My heart and kitchen to yours.  Share recipes, biblical truths, humorous stories and love-filled pictures. Read if you'd like and comment if you desire. I'm going to enjoy this!  Now, let's get to it!

I just recently started making a menu plan (Let's be real: I'm only two weeks in. I'm two weeks in!  In a row!)  It has helped considerably to relieve the stress of thinking about what to serve my family at mealtimes that is delicious and nutritious! And making sure I have all the groceries to make it!

I found it very hard to keep to it, but I think I have found out how!
This is how I started - if you're interested in starting too:

1. Write down a list of perishable items you have in your fridge and pantry.
2. Write down a list of ALL frozen items - from veggies, to meats, to already made meals, to frozen desserts.  *This one took awhile, but was so worth it.  Do it on a hot day - even more worth it! ;)*
3. Sit down and write numbers beside the food items that go together.  For example:  I had perogies and sausage in my freezer, chives and bacon in the fridge and some sour cream.  I wrote a small 1 beside these items.  There was a different meal that could use the chives, so I also wrote a 2 beside the chives and the other item in my pantry that it went well with.  And so on!
4. Write down your meals!  I suggest planning ahead for breakfast (if you fancy breakfast - we sure do!), lunch and supper all at once!  We modified a bit during the week with schedule changes and such, but overall, a MUCH easier week!  Yay us!!

Something else that has spurred on this meal planning bit, has been the 21 Day Fix.  We are now trying to focus on eating healthier and staying physically active!  Mark and I feel much better (minus the incredibly sore, stretching, torn muscles!  Heh heh.) and have more energy to play with our endless-energized kids.  I reccommend this workout.  With the modifier, it works for those who just want to step it out while Autumn runs in place, walk out the burpees as oppose to flying through them.  Any speed.  Whatever works for you!  I encourage it.  Or could you tell that already?  *shrugs*  Like I said, you can choose to read this!  :)

That is what I have for today.  That was fun!!!  

I leave with you the words of The Lord spokes through Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 6 verses 4-9:

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord your God, is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.  When you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates." 

~ The Bloggary ~

01.07.2013

Well, has it ever been awhile since I have written anything!  Most of you know my life, but some of you may have no idea what has happened in the past 4 years!  Here is a recap:

Married my favorite man on July 10, 2009.
Honeymooned to Cuba!  
Lived at Avenue H for a time and then moved to YFBC to be program directors.
Travelled to Mexico with YFBC as chaperones!  
Moved back to Avenue H in the fall of 2010.
Found out I was pregnant with our first baby in September.
Drove out to Prince Rupert!
Noah Mark Neudorf was born on May 6, 2011...he decided to wait for his Auntie Demara to return from her overseas gallavanting with Anna K.  :)
Built a house in Hampton Village and moved into it in September of 2011.  
Mark was offered a position as a real estate agent with Bill Spezowka - so he took his Agent course.
Made many good memories...Noah getting into the hardened fat under the sink, his first steps, rocking him to sleep in the rocker in his room, building a deck, playing in the pool on the deck, and finding out we are pregnant with our second child! 
Moved back to Avenue H - upstairs this time - just in time to welcome our daughter, Danika Linn Neudorf, into the world! She is a joy.
Have been non-stop renovating the upstairs to make it exactly how we want it.
Start digging for our new house in Warman on the 11th of March! 

Life is about to get even more interesting! ;)  

Married Life...

Hello everyone...just in case you didn't know, I got married to a wonderful man named Mark Neudorf on July 10 2009. Life has pretty much been turned upside down (in a very unique and exciting way) and is going very well. I was looking for work recently, but may have found a job at Twisted Goods and so the search might be over. :)

Maybe I will start with Engagement...want the story? Here it is!

It was a really cold December 27th evening in Eastend, SK and this very excited girl was waiting very impatiently for her boyfriend to arrive. So impatiently, in fact, that every 5 minutes she would perk up at any sound the wind made. She was watching TV downstairs to pass the time when the phone rang and the butterflies started taking off inside her stomach and hitting the walls. But, the number on the screen said "S Wig" referring to her grandmothers number. She tried to relax and maybe try sleeping, but it was no use. She was just waiting and waiting for him to come and nothing worked to pass the time. About two hours later, the phone rang again and it was for her! Oh dear, oh dear.

"Hello?"

"Courtney...uh, you need to come and get me. I lost control of my car on the ice and landed in the ditch. I am really stuck and need you to come get me. I am near the old...While Valley Church? Do you know where I am talking about?"

"Yeah, I know exactly where you are. Did you want me to get Dad to come with me to get you out?"

"Nah. We can get my car in the morning sometime. Just drive out here and pick me up, k?"

"Alright sounds good to me."

She hung up and walked upstairs. Everyone in the living room was looking at her.

"What? I need to go pick up Mark, he got stuck in the ditch. Dad, should you come with me?"

"No, honey, you go ahead, we can get it tomorrow."

"Okay."

So off she went, all the while wondering why in the world everyone was looking at her like they knew something was up.

But, the closer she got to the point of destination, the more she was becoming skeptical and in a cold-sweat. Why had daddy said the exact same thing Mark had? Why didn't be come with me and pull the car out?

All these questions would soon be answered, for there was Mark's car parked in front of the church - not stuck in the LEAST and soft light emanating from the church windows in the dusky light of the evening.

She parked her car beside his, got out slowly and took a deep breath. No. It can't be! But, it HAS to be! Oh my goodness. Thoughts just whirled through her head as she approached the red roses leading the way up the steps. Oh my goodness. She thought again. She opened the door and nearly stepped on about 2 dozen more roses just in the front entry way. Picking them up was seeming an impossible task. She looked towards the inside doors and tilted her head at the way the light seemed to be moving. She opened one door and joy just flooded her heart and soul and mind as her eyes focused each tealite lining the sides of the aisle, the stunning red roses scattered on the carpet, the tall pillar candles set in a careful pattern, and then finally on Mark at the front of the church, on one knee, holding a little red box. I dropped the roses I had been collecting, ran down the aisle and fell into his arms. I couldn't stop smiling and shaking as I hugged him. In a soft voice he said,

"You need to stand up so I can ask you a question."

I stood up and waited while he asked me the question every little girl dreams about hearing from the one she loves.

"Courtney Linn Wig. Will you marry me?"

"YES!" He stood up quickly and pulled me into his arms - I pretty much melted. And standing there, in the church of my childhood, with the man of my dreams, we sealed the deal with a kiss. A promise.

I was so excited to get back to grandma's and tell everyone of the news! When we got there, we walked in and I jumped up the stairs and yelled,

"I'm engaged!" And just held up my hand for everyone to see. I gave people hugs and admired my beautiful ring with them and then I noticed my sister, Demara. She was teary-eyed.

"You're engaged?" She said with a quivering voice. I went over to her and hugged her HARD. "I can't believe you are engaged. You are grown up. You're engaged!" She kept repeating that while I hugged her as she cried a little bit. Happy of course, but sad for a change that meant me going away.

...

So, that started the journey for Mark and I...and, believe me, adventure is going strong to this day - every day something new happens and I am so thankful for this man God arranged for me to meet and eventually marry. Life is incredible and especially when you have the peace of God to carry you through and a husband that prays for you. Every day. Yes, everyone, life is good. Thanks for reading.

HI Everyone!

This is my new blog!  I won't be adding things until a little through January, but I thought I would be the one to introduce you to my site!  This is an exciting time in my life.  My grandma and I are going to Hawaii for 2 months to help out there at Mission Builders.  It should be a good, exciting, stretching, and learning experience.  By Learning, I don't just mean surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and cooking - I mean that I will be learning more about my relationship with Jesus Christ.  Please keep me in your prayers!