Answers: Part One

This will be fun! Thanks for all the awesome questions!

1. I love your haircut. Would you be willing to e-mail photos from a few different angles so I can take them to the salon with me next week?

Yes for sure! I'm so flattered by all your compliments on my hair! :)

2. when you went on the mission (last year was is), how did you get involved in that. it is something i have been praying about for a while now. and how did it affect you, or change you?

My husband and I went to the Dominican Republic in February 2009. We were able to have this opportunity thanks to GVE (Greenvalley Equipment), which is the John Deere dealership Ryan works for. They raised funds, which another foundation matched (Ben Sawatzky Foundation). We raised enough money for the construction of 6 homes!

We got to go and actually put our sweat and tears into building the homes. The local guys taught us how to lay bricks, mix concrete, and more! It's amazing how they worked all day in that heat!

We got to see how they are living now, with hope of knowing what they will get in the future.

We had the privilege of presenting the homes to the 6 families.

... and met many many beautiful souls along the way.

It changed my life in a lot of ways, and I could write a LOT about it, but to keep it short, I would say that it challenged me. It challenged me to work my hardest for these people. Challenged me to give of myself. It also made me see how selfish I really am, and how thankful I should be for where I live, and the roof I have over my head. My 'little' 600 square feet house is much more then they will ever have! So as much as I went there to help them, they truly helped me & Ryan as well. It also changes a person when you experience love... and we fell in love with some of the people there. It broke our hearts to leave them, but we feel so blessed to have met them, and that we could make a small difference, and show them OUR love for them, as well as GOD's love for them. GVE is taking another team there this February, and we would totally be there, if we weren't expecting another little one. I'm excited that my in-laws are part of this year's team though, so we can send our friends letters and gifts along with them. If you want to learn about the foundation we worked with, click here, and here.

I've also been on a trip with Samaritan's Purse, which was how Ryan and I met!

I really encourage everyone, single or married, to go on a humanitarian trip like this to see what difference you really can make in others' lives. Not only will those lives be changed, but so will your own! They are some of my most fondest memories.

3. any theme or color ideas for Delilah's space?

I'm still working on finding fabric swatches, and paint chips, and inspiration etc... but here's what I have gathered so far.

Think tea party theme, with florals, and lace, and peaches & cream, fawns & sparrows, muted greens, and pale pinks.

Here are some images from my inspiration folder....

4. I was just curious about how it is you have your second child when you are so young.

I always wanted be a young mom, so we didn't wait very long after getting married, to start our family. Simon was born in September 2007, and he's at a great age to have a sibling. We felt that we were ready to do it all again, newborn stuff that is, so we were thrilled to find out we were having another baby this May. :) I am going to be 23 years old when Delilah is born, and I don't feel too young at all. For me, all the timing couldn't be better.

Sometimes it feels strange because a lot of the friends we hang out with don't have children, so it sort of puts us in a different category... or I find myself relating more with women who are in their 30's, but I love that too! It doesn't matter what "everybody else" is doing, it's what we feel is right for us. Being a parent is an adventure, and it's only going to get more adventurous! I'm having a blast.

5. How did you pick the name Delilah?

No special meaning really. Delilah is a name Ryan and I both agreed on, and if Simon would've been a girl, that's what his name would've been. When we found out we were having a girl this time, we both just sort of knew that was still the name we loved. It's beautiful, we think.

6. What's your favorite movie?

I like a wide range of movies... from the LOTR trilogy, to The Little Mermaid. :) I don't have a definite favorite, but some other ones I like are Band of Brothers, A Beautiful Mind, 007 Casino Royale, and The Diving Bell & the Butterfly.

7. How many tattoos do you have and what are they?
I have 4 tattoos right now.

(for lack of a better photo)

The first one I got is on my left forearm (inside) and it is a plumeria flower. It's sort of a honeymoon memoir. We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon, and I always wore one in my hair, or picked them just to enjoy the scent.

The 2nd one I got is on the inside of my right arm. Silje designed it for me, and it says 'Loves'.

My 3rd tattoo is the girl that Elsie designed for me. I love it a lot, I got it done at Metamorphosis in Winnipeg.

And the latest one I have is a bow on my right shoulder. I got this one in Kansas City, the first time I went to visit Elsie, it was so fun! We met Silje, and got bubble tea, good times.

(that's Shaun in the background) :D

8. When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was little, I always wanted to be an artist, like a painter. My parents put me in art classes at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and I loved everything about art. As I got a little tiny bit older, and started playing with dolls, I love loved doing their hair, so I wanted to be a hairstylist then. Then once I wanted to work at Subway (I was 6 or 7 I think, lol), and I wanted to be an optometrist once, and then in high school I was seriously going towards a goal of becoming a Graphic Designer, but felt that I wanted to go to cosmetology first.... and that's what stuck! I love hairstyling a lot, and I love that I can be creative while still have the flexibility to stay at home with my kids when I want to. It's a fun industry. I never EVER thought I would ever own my own salon though... that seemed to come out of nowhere, it's a great experience though.

9. I was wondering if you have a dedicated craft space? My husband and I live in an apartment, and it seems like my craft projects take over sometimes! How do you keep your projects organized?

This is funny, I DO have a dedicated craft space, but you wouldn't want to see it right now.. Total disaster. I had a great time organizing it, once we found the perfect desk for all my supplies, but lately it's been neglected. For the most part I just craft wherever I'm comfortable. I've been mostly knitting & crocheting for the last few months, so I bring my projects with me, or in bed, or on the couch... I have to tackle my craft space soon though, that way I can see what sort of supplies I have, which makes it easier to be inspired. Here's a photo of my desk though, it's in our office. (from a long time ago when it was once clean, ha!)

I have closets full of yarn and felt... I wouldn't say it's very organized, that's something I need to work on.

I keep embroidery floss, ribbon, and buttons in big mason jars. My scrapbooking stuff is all in one organizer, etc... so technically there is a place for everything, but everything isn't always in it's place.... Being creative gets the best of me sometimes, and it can be messy! I usually keep any current projects in a canvas tote, for example, I have 2 balls of yarn, knitting needles, scissors, yarn needle, and a pattern in my "current projects" tote bag, so I can grab it on the go.

10. how do you hope to inspire your children to create?

It's fun to think about what my children will be passionate about... My wish is that I can inspire my children with the passion I have for the things I create, whatever they may be, and that I nurture their passions. I think crafts will be a part of they're childhood because I will enjoy making things with them, and teaching them creative skills. Simon and I already like to color together, and draw fruit trees and happy faces. :)

ok, that's part one! I'll be back with part two later on, most likely this evening. Thanks again for your questions, I enjoy answering them!

....ps, it's friday! :)