Today my final class begins and it will be a challenge. The course content should be fine but the four hour length on Monday mornings is going to be hard. Monday's are often my only day off from work. We'll see how it goes. The bonus is that throughout the fall, Monday is often a holiday so we will have less classes this semester.
As far I can see this is my final class of my Diploma in Child and Youth Care however I want to wait to receive the official note from the Registrar as there seem to be credit calculation differences on my transcript and the website. Fingers crossed that the result will be good!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Three Hour Trip
That's right. I left work an hour early and headed across the border for an evening of great shopping. The US dollar and exchange rate is incredible right now and with little to no tax it is way cheaper to shop in Washington than BC. Plus it makes for a fun Friday night. I waited about 10 minutes at the border each way which is nothing compared to weekend and Summer delays. I came home with a car load of groceries (mostly things we can't buy in Canada) and two items of clothing. The most exciting find was pear yogurt. I haven't had pear yogurt since being in Brazil in 2006. YUM!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Sharing Food
It's been a long time since I last posted on my blog. My life has continued to be busy with exciting things. Exciting things like travel, a drumming class, choir practice and a week of vacation bible school. It seems like each day brings something new and something to look forward to. I have so much to be thankful for. I have a great fullness in my life and sometimes wonder what quiet and boring feels like. I also sometimes forget to be really thankful until a situation puts my great life into perspective.
This week has been a short work week due to Labour Day so our office has only been open for three days. Just three days and we've already given out food to ten different households who came in for support. Today it was a family with two adults and five children. Our food cupboard is for emergenices and it broke my heart to hear that parents didn't have food for school lunches. Luckily there are some amazing people in the church who bring in donations all the time and someone just brought in granola bars and juice boxes this morning. It's nice to think that tomorrow five children will wake up and be able to pack a lunch in their school bag and head to class. What an exciting day for them!
This week has been a short work week due to Labour Day so our office has only been open for three days. Just three days and we've already given out food to ten different households who came in for support. Today it was a family with two adults and five children. Our food cupboard is for emergenices and it broke my heart to hear that parents didn't have food for school lunches. Luckily there are some amazing people in the church who bring in donations all the time and someone just brought in granola bars and juice boxes this morning. It's nice to think that tomorrow five children will wake up and be able to pack a lunch in their school bag and head to class. What an exciting day for them!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Chocolate Cake
The best chocolate cake ever! I made it last night and it received great reviews. I discovered it through a cooking show on the food network. No flour and no gluten.
Moist Chocolate Cake
2/3 cup quinoa
1 1/3 cups water
2 cups milk or soy milk
4 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 cups white or cane sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Bring the water and quinoa to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for another 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow the quinoa to cool.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch (20 cm) round or square cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment paper.
Combine the milk, eggs and vanilla in a blender or food processor. Add 2 cups (500 mL) of cooked quinoa and the butter and continue to blend until smooth.
Mix the sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the contents of the blender and mix well. Pour the batter into the pan and bake on the center oven rack for 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Moist Chocolate Cake
2/3 cup quinoa
1 1/3 cups water
2 cups milk or soy milk
4 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 cups white or cane sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Bring the water and quinoa to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for another 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow the quinoa to cool.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch (20 cm) round or square cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment paper.
Combine the milk, eggs and vanilla in a blender or food processor. Add 2 cups (500 mL) of cooked quinoa and the butter and continue to blend until smooth.
Mix the sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the contents of the blender and mix well. Pour the batter into the pan and bake on the center oven rack for 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Grandma
Last weekend I went with friends to Washington State, a normal and pretty frequent thing to do although this time we went and explored some new places. It was a great day and on the way home, while waiting in the border line we had the windows down and the smell of farms was wafting into the car. Not the stinky kind of smell but the grass after a long day in the sun, type of smell. It totally reminded me of my Grandma's house in Utah. If it was near by I would probably jump in my car and go for a little drive down memory lane.
I think of Grandma (and all of my grandparents) pretty well every day of my life and have done since she (they) died about 11 (12 and 9) years ago. I often think of her home, the farm, the drinking well, the hay, cows and the street between her house and the house where my Uncle use to live. I think of how she knew her neighbours, went to church, grew her own food, raised children and worked hard. She always seemed to be sewing something on one of her sewing machines.
I find it so interesting that I love being at home, chatting with friends and neighbours, cooking and growing a lot of my own food and work hard. I also doing a lot of sewing and quilting on my machine. The only thing I don't have is children (yet).
Recently one of my cousins wrote to me to say that she was so proud of all that I have done in my life especially the ministry I do in the church and she said that Grandma would be proud. I hope Grandma would be proud after all she knew me through my childhood and teen years but not as a 32 year old (soon to be 33) women, minister, and granddaughter. Wow! If she was around today I would have so many stories to share.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Family Camp
I am back home after five days of Family Camp. It was a great week filled with crafts and games, campfire, singing, worship and lots of eating. The greatest highlight is that I went swimming for the first time in probably ten years. It was amazing!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Cabin Fever to Cabin Living
I've been home two weeks now, on leave from work in order to rest and recover after my car accident. The resting and recovering time has been a blessing and I am so thankful to work for a place that is so understanding and caring however I am starting to go crazy!!! There is only so much tv and reading one can take and I am at my limit. Thankfully tomorrow I am heading to Cultus Lake for a few days of fun where I will be resting and reading and staying in a cabin while surrounded by friends. From cabin fever to cabin living....
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