Sidetracked...

Well lately I have been (like everyone else) a little sidetracked with my blog. FACEBOOK is to blame.. hopefully I will get into it once again. I wanted to post some pictures of our new house that we are currently buying and renovating! Joyce these are for you.. Brad had told me you wanted to see some pictures of what we have done.

Family Time

For Easter weekend Brad's family came to visit from BC. We had a very good time with them. It was great seeing them all again. Since we live in such a touristy little town, we had lot's to do. We started the weekend by visiting the famous Moose Jaw tunnels. I have lived here for a long time and have never done them, and I am glad I finally did! Be sure to check out the tunnels if you ever visit the "friendly city". (That is our town slogan !) :) I know I am cheesy!

Our weekend also included having meals together, relaxing ,watching some of our favorite tv shows, playing games, and going to our Easter church service. On Sunday night both families got together at my sister Lauren's house to have an Easter supper. It was nice for everyone to be together. We just wanted to say "thanks again" to Crawford, Joyce, Lindsey and Kyla for taking time to come down and visit us. We really appreciated everything you did for us, and we are thankful and blessed to have you all in our lives.

Having a roast beef supper at our house
At the tea house
The girls having tea

We had a nice brunch at the Spa on Saturday morning. Brad's parents took us all out which was a wonderful treat! Brad's mom, sisters and I also had the chance to go for tea at Cranberry Rose. It is an old home converted into a beautiful gift shop and tea house. We had yummy cranberry scones with real whipped cream and strawberry butter.

After tea Kyla and I went for pedicures which was so much fun! I love pedicures, it was Kyla's first time having one. I wish I could have a pedicure twice a month!

Brad's sister's: Kyla and Lindsey waiting for our tunnel tour to begin.
Brad waiting in line at the tunnels.
Brad and I... the happy couple.. :)

Will always feel like home...

Last week Brad and I went to Caronport to my friend Becky's. We had supper at her house with her new, boyfriend Leighton. Caronport was the town that I grew up in. Everytime I drive from Moose Jaw to Caronport memories of my childhood come back to me.. and I smile. Even though I am married now and live away from their it will always feel like home. I wanted to post some pictures of the beautiful view from Becky's backyard. This is why Saskatchewan rocks.. well one of the reasons anyways! :)

An Update...

Well I just spent the last 45 mintues writing a new post and I went to view it, and somehow I ended up deleting it. I am not a very happy girl at the moment. Let's try this again... well today I am off work which is great. Brad and I went to the YMCA this morning at 9:00 and got home at 10:00. I enjoy working out in the morning as you get it over with and feel "in shape." I threw a roast into the slowcooker, after my 25 minute shower. It is so nice to have the time to just stand under a hot shower. (and to have the house to myself.. hehe I still love you though Brad! ) Now all I can smell is garlic, barbeque sauce and steakspice permiating the entire house. It is making me really hungry. I have to say that slowcookers are a wonderful invention. We got one as a wedding gift, and only used it for the first time a couple of months ago.

Anyways... right now were in the process of deciding whether or not to buy and renovate a new home. My mom and dad own a number of property's and one of them just came up for us to potentially buy. It is an older, brick, character home. It is located only 3 or 4 blocks from where we are now. It has 3 bedrooms and only 1 bathroom. If we did buy it we would want to gut the kitchen and redo it and add another bathroom. We also would want to keep the house we have now and rent it out. In our current home we have fixed up the upstairs and our basement is still unfinsihed. We have been trying to decide if it is worth fixing up the basement, or if we should just buy this new one. Hopefully in the next few weeks will have made a decision. Here are some pictures of our house currently. I wish I had some more before pictures... O well!

Our living room

Our front porch
Another angle of porch
Another angle of porch
Living room and kitchen

Back yard and garage that was just reshingled this past weekend. We painted it last summer. Brad and I 's room
Another angle of our room
And another angle
Our guest room that we just did this last week Our bathroom

Just Because...

This post is to make my sweet husband smile! I just wanted you to know that I appreciate and love you very much! Thanks for all you do for me. It doesn't go unnoticed!

It's Time...

Well I know it is definitely time for a new post. I feel as though the day's keep going faster and faster. In the last couple of weeks since I last wrote so much has transpired. You know when you mean to write and something else keeps coming up?? Well that is how the last 2 weeks have been for me. Today I was off work; which enabled me to go to church. Whohoo!!! I usually work Sunday's so it is always a treat to be able to go with Brad. I finally built up enough courage to ask for a couple Sunday's off a month. To my surprize they said they would do the best they could do make it possible. So far I have been getting every other Sunday off; which has been an answer to prayer. Here are a few pictures of the last few weeks:

This is Becky, Sam, Purdy and Melody: I went to elementary school with all of these girls. Last weekend Purdy and Melody came down from Alberta . I had the chance to reconnect with them again after 5 years of not seeing them. We had a great time, it is so fun to see old friends!
This is Heather and I. A few weekends ago Brad and I went to their house in Swift Current,Sk for the weekend and we had an awesome time. They were very hospitable and made us feel very welcome. The food was sooo good! Thanks again guys!
Edwin cooking up a chicken alfredo pasta dish. It was delicious! Heather and Edwin standing outside of their house!
This is my best friend Kandis Biette and her little girl Kyra Star. She lives in Regina, Sk. It was Kandis's birthday on March 2. Her husband had a surprise party for her on Satrurday.

A Love Story...

Well seeing as it is February 14th, the " love day" I thought I would tell the story of how Brad and I met. In 2000 I headed off to Capernwray Harbour on Thetis Island, BC to complete my second year of bible school. The previous year I had attended my first year at the Capernwray in Sweden. I wanted further training and felt like Thetis Island would be the best choice for me. The first day that I arrived on the Island I went into the main hall to look around and I saw Brad. I can clearly remember noticing him as he was singing the american anthom quite loudly, while he was suppose to be setting tables. Brad had been a previous student as well but the year we met he was on staff doing maintenance. From the get go Brad and I connected and became friends. I remember calling home countless times and telling my family and friends all about him. That whole year I thought the world of Brad and couldn't imagine my life without him in it. That said a lot to me as I had never had that certainity with any other guy. Of course I didn't tell him that at this point. I think it would of scared him! :) It wasn't until the next year when I came back to cook did we get together. He was on staff again and so was I.

I will fast foward a couple of years and say that Brad and I broke up a couple of times during the course of our courtship. It was a hard time for both of us. The thing is, I always knew in my heart that I would marry him. Brad too could never really get me out of his head. Even when we had broken up for the second time, we found our way back together. We both were so comfortable with each other, and had established a great friendship. The Lord led our paths together again in the fall of 2004. We had not seen each other for about 6 months because we had broken up the previous December. Brad decided to take a trip out to Thetis for the weekend and we connected again. This time was "the time" that the lights went on for Brad. That visit was when Brad knew without a doubt that he was going to marry me. Two months later on new years eve we were engaged, and got married the following September of 2005! I am thankful that the Lord taught me so much through the waiting period. I knew from that first year when I met Brad in 2000 that I would marry him. It took a little longer that I thought for things to happen, but I now know and beleive that it was all in God's perfect timing!

Brad and I have now been married a year and a half, and I am so thankful for him. He is continually growing into a man of God. I am so proud of him. I am excited to grow with him, have a family with him, and just simply share my life with him. He brings laughter and joy to many and I often take him for granted. I have been given such a gift in a godly husband who takes care of me, supports me and most importantly loves me. Brad, today know how much I love you and that I am proud to be your wife. I honestly feel like I got the best one... and that is you honey! Happy Valentines Day!!!
xoxo ,
Samantha:)

This one's for you Liz!

Kirk and Liz... great looking couple hey?!
Sam and Liz
Kirk and Brad having some fun...
My hubby and I

This post is dedicated to my dear, dear friend Liz! I have known Liz since grade 5 and we also graduated from highschool together. She has been following my ever so popular blog (hehe) and keeps asking me" Sam when am I going to be posted on your blog?" So Liz this one is for you!! :) Liz and her husband Kirk, who were highshcool sweethearts came down from Carstairs, Ab for the weekend. We went out to one of our favorite restaurants Hopkins for a lovely dinner, then came back to our house for tea and dessert! It was so nice to see them both, as we only usually see them twice a year! Brad and I really enjoy hanging out with them as they are both easy going and entertaining to be around! Liz and Brad share a lot of the same humor, so it can be pretty funny seeing them interact! Liz, I love you , and hope that we can have baby's together one day soon! Peace to you my friend! :)

Just one more of Katy and Jackson..

This is a typical Jackson expression. He just loves his spiderman jammies. He would wear them all day if he could!

My sister had this picture of my niece and my mom on her blog and I thought it was too cute! So... I had to steal it! Isin' t she darling!!?

Baby Katy came and went...

Danielle, Samantha, and Katy all hanging out for the day. Katy is getting ready to go to bed, and I have to let her go! :( Katy is having fun playing with her toys, and smiling for her Auntie.
Katy after her bath! She always rolls everywhere when you lay her down.
This is my other sister Lauren's little boy. Jackson is 3, and he likes talking on the phone and loves superhero's!

A couple of weeks ago my sister Danielle and niece Katy came up from San Jose to Moose Jaw for a visit. They left dad(Benji) behind as he had to work. It was really nice to have them both here for the week. On January 18th Katy was 5 months old. I can't beleive how quickly time has gone by. Just so everyone knows she is the cutest little girl I have ever seen. She has these beautiful, blue, smiling eyes that melt your heart. I wish they lived a little closer than California.. (hint hint Danielle) :) Mind you, in 5 months I have seen her 3 times... so that is not too bad! In May I will be flying out to San Jose to see them all again. I can't wait!!

Hats off to Becky!!!

Becky and I have been friends since we were 3 years old! She is one of my oldest, dearest friends! She recently decided to start weight watchers(on her own) and in only 3 and half weeks she has lost 10 pounds! She has inspired me to lose the 15 pounds I have wanted to lose since high school! For some reason it has been really hard for me to get the weight off once and for all. I guess the reason is simple: I eat too much, and don't exercise enough!! So as of Jan.30th I decided to do weight watchers! I am not joining the actual meetings but am counting and journalling what I eat. Already in 3 days and a pound and a half lighter I feel so much better! It really has made me aware of the things I put in mouth. Every meal requires thought as you want to eat things that are low calories, and that are healthy. I strongly encourage anyone who wants to lose weight to consider Weight Watchers. It is not a diet...it is a changed lifestyle.

Now that I have sounded like a commercial, I will leave you with a picture of my lovely, beautiful friend Becky. I am very proud of you!! Way to go and keep it up!! Love you!!