Bloom Where You Are Planted

Oooops.

2011-12-16T12:06:00.000-08:00

Maybe if I post a picture you'll all forgive me, if anyone reads this anymore anyways :)

It's almost Christmas, I am up to my ears in "churchy" things getting ready for this season of love. I can hardly wait to be home with ma and pa and charlie and mike and alex and HAILEY!Only a few more snoozes and I'll be there, who's counting lol.

It has been busy up here in the North not too much to report to be honest.

I'm working lots as a full time Youth Worker up here and loving every second of it. They are finally after 3 years building me an office, it's gonna be pretty spectacular I must say, pretty pumped! I live up here with Benny Boo we're just trucking through the trenches of ministry and clinging to our Jesus with all our might. God has been pretty good to us which is to be expected that's kind of how He rolls but most of YOU know that from your own stories :) I am so thankful to God for that!!!!

My year has basically consisted of church, the pool, counting calories, cutting hair, dropping dress sizes, a few dates, and really just new and exciting experiences that I have never had before. Still single, still loving it, still serving the Lord and still praying for each of you!

Blessings!

It's been way too long!

2011-10-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry :( It has been way too long and I really don't have too many excuses but I will try to muster up a few !

#1) my computer sucks! (but I do know there is one at work and one in the basement so not really a valid excuse)

#2) I've been busy. (while this is true it is not completely truthful because I have been able to knit 3 scarves, 2 toques and read a few books during my "busy" season)

#3) my life isn't that exciting. (which is true but not accurate lot's has been happening.)

Well I am still up in Grande Prairie on almost year 3!!! crazy! and at our last church meeting it sounds like they may actually be building me an office, how cool is that! No more fake walls that people cannot lean on :) They have changed my job up here from "Parish Support Worker(whatever that really was lol)" to "youth worker" so that is an exciting change and a greater responsibility for myself!

I went home this summer and visited my new niece, so cute I'm pretty much in love I'd say. I have realized I enjoy spoiling her and while it is wonderful for said Hailey it is not so wonderful on aunties bank :( but seriously who cares! lol.

I went salmon fishing with dad and ben this summer in northern BC and once again like always I caught the most, no surprises there. At one point in the trip my dad made a comment "I should have left you behind" and I just looked at him, smiled and said "minus 12" that was the number of fish I caught. He got the point quite quickly! We have lots of salmon so if you find yourself in the neighbourhood let me know and I'll cedar plank some for you and maybe this time I won't even light the bbq on fire. Imagine!

This summer has been full and fall is proving the same from auctions to fishing, from weddings to hospital rooms, from laughter to sorrow, from grammas to nanny's, and from pale to burnt skin God is moulding me and teaching me how to wait with a Godly patience. I am praying that through this season in my life where I can almost taste the future that I will let go and fully live in the present and praise Him here.

God bless you all. I hope to be around a bit more :)

Windy windy windy!

2011-05-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

It's MAY!!! Woweee!

It has been quite a few busy weeks/months and I just feel crazy most of the time. We are starting to see the finish line for many programs at the church but needing to get revved up for summer events on the way ! It is super crazy around here.

The sun is so beautiful up here in the Peace Country, it is finally summerish out. For the long weekend Ben and I are hoping to put up our swing in the backyard, we( as in me ) might go pick up some bedding plants and get the garden on the go, maybe mow the lawn and get it all "summery!" There is so much to get done and it seems not enough hours in a day to accomplish it all.

I got to meet my niece (previous post). She is so cute, and I am still in awe of her I love getting pictures of her and I have a framed one of her "frowny face" in the kitchen it makes me smile soooo big!!

This is a very random post but I feel like there is soooo much to report but also nothing either.

We are having lots of fires up here so please pray, praying through it all has made me realize these things about my own life.

God is good, work is good, weather is good, family is good, I have a house to live in, a bed to sleep in, clothes in my closet and food on my plate.

I am blessed! Pastor preached on being thankful and he talked about how we tend to be full of "thanklessness" we don't "thank" as often as we should! I am thankful for all that God has provided for me and mine :)

Thank-you Jesus, thank-you.

I got to meet her !

2011-04-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

I met Hailey and she is a true doll !

Ben and I had to travel to BC to attend a friends funeral, the circumstances were poor but we did get to see Miss Hailey Rae and snuggle her !

A picture for you !

Finally one with her mommy :)

2011-03-07T10:46:00.001-08:00

the baby came!

2011-02-26T11:47:00.001-08:00

(picture from moms cell phone!)

Meet baby Hailey Rae Walsh! She was born this morning at 9:38 a.m. and was 7 lbs 14oz! I think she is adorable and I am so excited to be her Auntie.

Both her and mommy Alex are doing great!

I'm still here

2011-02-20T19:01:00.001-08:00

I have been super busy and thought about blogging so many times and then always loose the energy when I get down to buisness:)

Some news..

I should be an aunt any day..dang baby won't come out hehe.

With this auntie buisness I think my bank account will dwindle a bit more rapidly because I am addicted to being an Aunt and spoiling little WALSHY to death!!! Oh dear me!

My mommy is on strike...please pray..

I have taken up lane swimming as a way to relieve stress and genuinely get a bit healthier, or a lot healthier whatever happens.

I miss ya all, take care..will post something real soon :)

Basketball

2011-01-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

On of my youth is a basketball player. This means about once a week I find myself at a basketball game cheering her on hoping their team wins the game.

I have never like basketball.

As of late though I have been thinking maybe I never gave basketball a fair chance. I mean I did only try out once or twice when I was in Grade 6? Mr. Wilks was pretty intense and I was quite frankly pretty short! I did also have no real skills, I even held the basketball wrong when I shot, I was a walking failure at the game. I didn't like the sport because you could never hit anyone and I was always getting fouled (sad face).

Just yesterday though I got thinking.

If only I had learned the rules of basketball I am sure it would have been a different story. As I hear the coach talking to the girls saying "plant your feet if they push you it's a foul" I think that maybe had my Grade 6 coach took the time to really fill me in on the "tricks to not get fouls and still be awesome" I may have enjoyed basketball.

To be honest though I am pretty sure I still would not have played it!

"Quinoa"

2011-01-18T11:27:00.001-08:00

This is my new favorite food. I especially love mixing it with black beans and corn. It is so healthy and oh so yummy. When I was home in BC my mom bought me my own "Quinoa Cook Book"

I was stoked!

Ben was less stoked!

I have a tried a few dishes, some have gotten a 5/10 others a 9/10 nothing has made it to the 10/10 on "Bens scale" anyways, haha.

I always ask him about 17 times during dinner "do you like it?" - He always gives me his disgruntled face. Our worst meal he said "I just shouldn't like it, everything about Ben should not like this, but I don't hate it" - hence the 5/10

The 9/10 he was more pumped about, even went for seconds. After dinner I asked him his thoughts, Ben said "Don't make it everyday but its pretty good"!

He likes to give me those ultimatums otherwise he knows he would be eating "this stuff" (how he refers to it) every night!

I love that baby pizza pop eating benny actually tries Quinoa, it makes my heart smile!

majestic

2011-01-10T16:31:00.000-08:00

LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.

Psalm 8:1

The word "majestic" is on my mind today. I loved the sound of it as I whispered it in my office today "majestic, majestic"- Go ahead try it, it is just a fun word. All day I was thinking of God and majestic and the obvious connection. I was picturing waterfalls, grand mountains, low valleys, the ocean floor or even hot deserts. Majestic, so huge, so wonderful complete awe filling space.

So I googled it. It being the word "majestic"

The second photo was this one. "Aslan" It may not be the actual "aslan" from the Chronicles of Narnia but I enjoyed savouring the imagery anyways. How majestic is my God. The roaring lion, the cuddly pal, the friend to sinners and the greatest sacrifice. My Lord.

God has a great way of tying in the random thoughts and desires I have and bringing it all back to Him. What started as just a word "majestic" has turned into yet another oppurtunity to dig deeper, to look closer, to experience more the love of my Jesus. He is everywhere, this I was reminded of today..

If God gives you a word..savour it..He usually is up to something..

May the Lord surprise you this bitter cold January..!

mmm Cookies and .. Christmas!

2010-12-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

I baked these cookie 2 days ago. I love these "oreo cookies" becuase

#1) They taste delicious!

#2) They remind me that Christmas is here! After all we only make them this time of the year!

I have to bring my friend to the airport today and in 2 sleeps another friend will have to bring Ben and me to the same airport!

We're going home!

In need of Faith lift!

2010-12-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

I have been trucking along through this advent journey and feel discouraged. I have planned so hard not to miss it but I feel like I have.

Time is slipping away on me.

In my daily commute I pray "come Lord Jesus" before I eat my lunch, and supper I pray the same prayer.

Be my guest, truly I mean it, I will stop what I am doing and be with you!

He asks "promise?"

I respond "I will try so so hard"

He says "I love you, just the way you are"

I exhale all my worries, all my failed attempts at being more "intune", all my insecurities, all my sins, all my grief, all my joy, my anxious heart, my sick stomach, I give it all to Jesus.

I wimper "I'm empty..."

He proclaims "Come and I will fill you."

Praise Christ who is coming, who is here and who knows it all, trust in Him this advent season and even if like me you feel your failing, you feel time is slipping know He is with you, and he does not want perfect people only passionate ones. Love Him more deeply now than ever.

Peaceful thinking..

2010-12-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

This week has already been completely stress overload but I am enjoying my quiet times with the Lord drawing closer to Him. I enjoy peaking over my bible to see my cute beedy eyed nativity staring back at me in beautiful peace, two candles are lit this week which makes me excited that Christ is coming, He is so near..HE IS HERE!!!

There is a song on youtube I would encourage you to check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OExXItDyWEY

It will encourage you to think about where you priorities are at this Advent Season.

Much love and encouragement.

wait.

2010-11-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

This morning in my advent devotion as I lit the candle and read the lesson for the 3rd day in advent I was overjoyed and hungry of what was told to me in Luke chapter 1. I desperately wanted to skip ahead to the birth, speed through the preparations but alas it is Advent and I shall wait. But.... Jesus is coming (He is already here) but there is such an urgency to having Him arrive, isn't there? I am so excited.

I will leave you with a quote I was left to ponder today:

“Just imagine what Mary was actually saying in the words, ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord … let what you have said be done to me’ (Luke 1:38). She was saying, ‘I don’t know what this all means, but I trust that good things will happen.’ She trusted so deeply that her waiting was open to all possibilities. And she did not want to control them. She believed that when she listened carefully she could trust what was going to happen.

“To wait open-endedly is an enormously radical attitude toward life. So is to trust that something will happen to us that is far beyond our own imaginings. So, too, is giving up control over our future and letting God define our life, trusting that God molds us according to God’s love and not according to our fear. The spiritual life is a life in which we wait, actively present to the moment, trusting that new things will happen to us, new things that are far beyond our own imagination, fantasy, or prediction. That, indeed, is a very radical stance toward life in a world preoccupied with control.”

—Henri Nouwen

God bless each of you!

The chill in the air.

2010-11-15T21:24:00.000-08:00

I was over on Elli's blog and read all about how she is planning to spend Advent this year.

I plan to not miss it.

In my newsletter article this month at church I stated how I was preparing for Advent, seems comical but I need to prepare. I miss things way to easily. Booom! It's Monday and the weekend just slipped on by, how the junk did that happen?

I hate missing things though.

I plan this year to be quiet, to be still, to allow time for the Lord to speak to me in the midst of all my chaos. I say "my" chaos because I know that deep down I create it. I create time to talk about not having time to be with God resting and while I am busy talking about it I am missing the time I could have been with Him. Does this speak to anyone else?

I am addicted.

To what?

Christian materials.

I told my mom that God and I talked and I am not allowed to read any Christian book only the Bible. Why? No, not because my God is psycho, not because He is mean but because I do not spend near enough time in His Scripture meditating with Him. I am turning advent into almost a lenten experience, where I savour, struggle and cling only to God and His word!

Period.

Happy Late halloween early christmas..IDK!

2010-11-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

Hey oh, been busy here, halloween came and went. This weekend we have a youth retreat almost 40 already registered! Praise God. The theme is Vikings.

For this retreat I was responsible for making Facebook profiles of each leader, I also took their photos and added little things to them. I will share a few a long with ben and my halloween pics.

Blessings!

hmmm...

2010-10-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Life makes no sense to me lately.

One thing has made sense however:

"I have a Maker and He knows my name!"

Take that LIFE!

they really did it.

2010-10-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

My parents moved today. It has been a rough week of packing and stress. They are actually gone now. I feel empty.

I did the only logical thing.

Cleaned.

I feel a teensy bit better.

thats all.

dirt under my fingernails...

2010-09-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Today it is so nice out, the sun is warm, the grass smells sweet, the wind is crisp a perfect day to pull up all my flowers and prepare for fall.

I always seem to fall in love with fall. I get really depressed at first and then it hits me. The crisp, lovely, new feeling of another season. I thoroughly enjoy every season actually. I think it is just the change, the excitment of something new.

Lots of people hate winter because it's soo cold, I live in Northern Alberta and winter gets to be minus 40 but I love a hot cup of tea, a good book and being wrapped in a blanket watching snow sparkle outside. Fall is paving the way for winter..then spring then summer then we do it all again.

Today as I cleaned the dirt from underneath my fingernails I realised how much I love the earth, I love the sun, I love the seasons, I love my sense of smell, sense of touch, I love how God can take a tedious chore and turn it into a moment to experience him, be with him and love him more and more...

Update time..

2010-09-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Okay so I am back from holidays, VBS is over, the bee dress I wore was amazing, thanks mommy for making it for me.

Fall is coming, the leaves fall and everything changes..

Changes indeed...

My parents are moving, well more like dad is already gone mom will soon be following...

Mike and Alex will have a baby soon, (thank God for the health and safety with this one), baby is due in January.

Ben and I will likely fly home(Sparwood) for Xmas to be with the whole walsh clan down there(ma, pa, mike, alex, baby to be, kovu the dog and the kittens)

Ben is single again, I told him to join the club, being single isn't all bad.

Our house is truly becomming a home..

God is good, friends filled me up on holidays thanks so much( Nat Nat, Christy, Sarah, Marian, Breanne, Austen, Jeff, Hundeby, Jannaya, Graham, AMY, Cat and my beloved Allison)

My cars service engine light came on, I love warranty and men who think young blondes are so foolish, what a laugh.

I baked today and therefore my house smells delish!

Thanks also God for revelations, rememberance, dance parties with seniors, take out, the movie theatres, my little Joyce, music, bens guitar, water and so so so much more..

Oh and for couscous!

That's a wrap ladies and gentleman!

I'm going Bee Crazy

2010-08-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

Our VBS this year takes place on Planet Zoom where bold BEElievers Zip, Zap and Zoom for Jesus!

I am going a little crazy...

I go on holidays on Friday, going to go to many many places, take in Austens wedding then return to GP for Bee crazy times at V(bee)S! Summer is going by so quickly but it has been quite fun and a little refreshing.

Hope you are all basking in Gods' presence this sunny season and BEEcoming more like Jesus each passing day!

Okay i'll buzz off..<--that's my fave from all of the curriculum! hehe

A New Car

2010-07-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

I bought a new car, yup sure did.

A 2010 Nissan Sentra, loving it.

A long time..

2010-07-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, just noticed that I have most definitely fallen off of the blogging world! Oh well, not much is new, that's all I can say, I played baseball last night-surprise!

Well summer is in full swing and I am loving it, I love summer with my job because for once I get a semi 9-5 mon-fri sort of a life! It is so refreshing. All year I am gone, every evening is church something so it is really nice to make supper and then lounge around after with Ben and not have to rush out. I am enjoying it very much so.

Last weekend I was in Edmonton with my youth for the National Youth Gathering. This was a very very good/tiring/wonderful time, I am so proud of those kids. It was 5 days and most of the kids slept for the drive home. I praise God that it went so smoothly and that the dynamics in our group did not clash as much as I had anticipated, thanks God for surprising me!

While away our garbage can lid blew off, no fun! So then we were greeted with maggots! Honestly they must be THE most disgusting things anyone ever has to deal with, thank goodness it was the outside garbage can! eww! So I called Ben to help the situation, to make him feel needed, that he is the man! ha. Well they wouldn't die so we googled how to kill maggots.

Do you know there are people who think killing them are cruel? - WHAT! jeesh! Killing cats is a little mean but maggots! puke puke puke!

Anyways we were told we could use this RAID hornet/wasp killer so we went on the hunt. While searching Shoppers for said weapon I noticed the names of RAID one made me laugh so much "Spider Blaster"= Ben loved it. So I then said to Ben "we just need to find some maggot faggot" - I caught him off guard, then realised what I had said and thought it was the only thing I thought of that rhymed! oops!

So in Bens words "If you want to kill maggots just use some Mr. Clean, Pledge, Maggot Faggot (Raid wasp killer). vinegar and some rum(thanks evan?)- the rum just got poured in there because evan had some and hates it!

They did seem to die. Or possibly their all drunk?

I felt bad for the garbage truck driver today! Oh well!

Happy Monday!

Baseball = OUCH!

2010-06-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

We had a double header last night. We lost. We always lose. It is okay though because I like to tell myself it is all just for fun so it doesn't matter. Sometimes though I just wish we could win, that we didn't have to be in the negatives when I check our standings..oh well. I mean usually I can pump it up with the knowledge that it is something to do on Sundays to be active. Lately though I just keep getting hurt...

A few weeks ago I got hit in the back- ouch.

Then the leg!- nice bruise- ouch.

Then last night I got a double whammy.

One to the face - OUCH!

And one to the wrist! - Ouch ouch ouch!

I was informed that a gentleman from the opposite team had been flirting with me, I totally missed it. Apparently I asked if he was out?- He responded "Well actually my name is Ian but you can call me out if you want to" - yah totally wasn't playing his game. Then I cheered for him which I think caught him off guard then he hit me in the wrist with the ball! What the heck! I understand accidents happen but seriously..pushing a girl down in second grade because you liked her wasn't even cool then..now I'm 23 and when Mr. Flirty pants hits me with the ball, I just want revenge.

I am not sure where any of this is going- Probably just that baseball is the only really exciting thing that has happenned since Nat Nat left.

She is coming...

2010-05-19T17:33:00.001-07:00

And I am pumped! And loving my life!!! I might even dust my house just for her, believe it! I said dust! That's love!!

Double Play...

2010-05-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

Baseball season is back and I am not ready. In my mind maybe but physically not so much. In good time though. My first game of the season I was forced to run full throttle to home being chased by another one of my wild fast running teammates- exhausting! Last Sunday I made a double play which was a nice way to end the game may I add and everyone cheered, Amber was in on our double play so we call ourselves "The Dream Team" - oh ya!

In baseball and in life I am learning that I may not always feel ready but I am equipped and with God I will be fine. I need to remember that I always do make it to home plate even when I don't think my legs are moving and that I can hit the ball. Just like in baseball this applies to life, when I think that one person will be just too hard to visit they surprise me by being so welcomming and excited that I called on them.

So the moral is this - What do I really know anyways? - Not a lot, just that through Christ I can do anything so I better get used to it!

Happy Tuesday.

One Year Anniversary!

2010-05-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

I have been here a year today! One whole year and I cannot believe it! I sat in my ladies bible study this afternoon and praised God for my time here thus far. About a week ago I found myself feeling quite weird and realized that it is because I am not leaving this time, so far anyway..I am actually staying..

PS- It snowed today!

Blooming..

2010-04-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

All I want is a flower bed..a garden..some good dirt and cool rain. I have been in that state of mind where all I want is life, blooms and greenery...I want that outside feeling I get when I have been in the yard all day raking, mowing..weeding. I don't even know if I know what that feeling really means..I don't think I have fully experienced it yet. I guess it is more that I want to experience that look I see on Moms face every year as she waters her pots, plays with her water hoses, and weeds her garden. That look of complete contentment. I want that.

23 on the 22nd..

2010-04-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

A whole year has gone past. This is crazy!

Last year it snowed on this day..the day is not over yet.

Looking forward to all sorts of surprises!

Mom's BIG 5-0!

2010-04-09T08:15:00.001-07:00

Mom turned 50 yesterday!

Ben and I placed 50 pink flamingos on her front lawn and a big sign that read "Lordy, Lordy Brenda's 50!" - because it didn't rhyme and she would love it!

We had a surprise party at our house for her with tons of people, food and laughter! I think she had a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday Mom!

And sorry about the lack of cameras it is a shame none of it was captured but it is all in our minds, you looked fabulous!

Love ya!

Inspired by puppets

2010-03-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

Today we had a visitor in our office, a little girl.

She did a puppet show for me with two characters, Gizmo the robot and "porkypine" the porcupine. I got to meet each of them.

When I met "porkypine" she said to me "Feel my pokes they are really soft" - She was right they were really soft. Then I thought about how we as individuals judge before we do anything.

It is a porcupine so of course it'll be pokey..but it wasn't...Or there is a long haired kid he must worship satan..or here's a punk he must steal cars..here's and overweight person they must be lazy..we don't really know anything so who are we to judge!!!

"porkypine" was not pokey..so there!

Living up to my name...

2010-03-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

Sarah means princess...and what every princess needs is a little glitter, agreed? Agreed!

This Saturday mom and I went to a store here called the "Powder Room" it is a slightly upscale expensive and luxurious bath/makeup shop. We just like to browse every now and then so it is fun to go to stores like this one. Today was my lucky day little did I know..

In the back there was a "stella & dot" party going on which is a very sweet jewelery buisness that just has gorgeous stuff..They let me know that if I bought any piece of jewelery they would enter my name into a draw for the chance to become the party host and then reap the benefits of the sales that happenned at their event.

Well i bought a cheap $38.00 pair of earrrings.

At 9:30 PM I got a phone call..

I won!

Whatever, this crap does not happen to me but it did..so today I spent $250 free dollars on jewelery and then got any 4 items I wanted for 50% off..all for me..felt so spoiled, still feel it..I had to share the glory with my mommy..Check their stuff out..gorgeous.

A hunger..

2010-03-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

There is a hunger out there for God, a hunger for truth, a hunger for help, a hunger for love, a hunger for honesty, a hunger for life, a hunger for friends, a hunger for acceptance, a hunger for peace and a basic hunger for nothing more than food.

In my line of work Monday mornings make me sick. This is me at my desk blogging about my job. Monday is the day of phone calls or rather of messages, no one has been in the office since Friday and it breaks my heart. You have those calling to talk to the pastor and you can only assume a couple of things #1) the subject on the line is about to complain about the length of sevice yesterday or #2) It may actually be important<--this does not usually happen as much as (#1)! There are those messages though that break me in two, the ones of that single mother sobbing while kids scream in the background, the ID restricted calls from the womans shelter, the poor college student with no family and no friends, a friend calling to say yet another old lady slipped and broke her hip. They are sad. This is life, the real hunger..some call for food..some for us to just listen..some for a light in their present darkness...and some for a visit to their quiet hospital room...the hunger is there..the hunger for Jesus.

So as I sit here on this another Monday I find myself cornered..where to first? That ladies house with a Safeway giftcard..the hospital with some flowers, the shelter to give a hug...

I think I will go to my quiet place of rest, ask God to fill me, to guide me and to show me where in today He would like me to be His hands and feet..the options for service are everywhere...where first..?

It's all fun and games until...

2010-02-24T21:22:00.001-08:00

Someone loses a toe!

That someone being me, and well not really a complete toe but chunks of it! Yuck!

On Friday night my youth and I were playing games in the dark, because I like to be stealthy I took my shoes and socks off and rolled my pants up so no one would hear my rustling as I snuck around. In full sprint trying to get away from the person pursuing me(Ben) I ran full throttle into our church stairs. That stopped me alright..my right foot tingled and then I thought "RUN"- So I got up and proceeded to run through the church, finally I realised that my foot was quite warm and felt wet..I turned on a light to discover "bloood!!! everywhere!"

The next while is much of a blur as my youth held my hands, while I screamed..ben doing first aid and some youth mopping up my "bloody mess"- I thought..it cannot be so bad but I was informed it was..Emergency room here we come.

Emergency rooms are a joke may I add.. I think if I walked in with only half of my head connected they would kindly say "take a number please"- I would persist I needed assistance and they would respond "It's protocol take a number.." - I don't want to dis the hospital for I was treated quite kindly but it is just interesting to watch people react to their pain/discomfort.

After an hour they moved me..just into a "new" waiting room I think just to trick all of us to thinking were getting somewhere..an hour and a half later...a room..and hour after that..an x ray..thirty mins after that..PAINFUL needle in foot..me screaming/la la la laing to not freak out little ones still waiting..then the stitches..and the removal of my toe nail which was really non existent...so that was my Friday.

I now have gauze on my foot, a mad limp and pain, lots of it..plus the reality that my toe is like hamburger, stitches on both sides and no nail with not a lot of hope of it growing back...but to think of a positive and to quote my daddy "It's sure a long way from your heart!"

He's right....and I have never had stitches so that was a new experience....

God is good...

Toes are optional...

Being taken care of by my very youth - priceless! & AMEN!

My priorities...

2010-02-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

Hello world..it has been awhile..well that is how it seems to me. It is like life is just too busy for me to be blogging but then I miss it too much.

Life is moving forward.

Yesterday I found a whole bunch of old CLBI papers that I had wrote and was reminded of my time there. I found myself chuckling, wondering how sleep deprived I was when I wrote a particular one and then laughing at my Jesus of Nazareth paper- Natashia you would know the one..

I found my paper from Godly Relationships with Aimee and LCO and especially my paper titled "The Necessities" (referring to what I need in a man)

I quickly skipped past who I should be and quick to who he should be, I began reading..some were very valid "must love the Lord, must love me..you know..the basics..some were more comical "must be open to changing <--what was I thinking! haha!

Then I wandered back to my list...

#1 got me.

Must love the Lord and be commited to Him daily.

Ooops.

What about weekly? Monthly? Does that count? Sure it does but that is not where I want to be. I want to be daily. So here it is. My priorities.! I was over on Courtneys blog and agree I am more prone to being a Martha rather than a Mary. Lord, take this from me, settle me down, calm me to rest in you, Amen!.

I guess if I am still working on my first priority of what I should be for my husband then perhaps he is still working through his own list...I need to prioritize who owns my heart; the world or the Lord...

Lord this heart is all yours!

Pouter.......

2010-02-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

Debbie Downer,

Negative Nancy,

Just to name a few coined terms that I hear every now and then from my baby brother directed towards me. Oh man, conviction or what!

I need to bask in the knowledge that God is good, my circumstance is good, life is what it was meant to look like and that I am loved.

I do not want to be the "party pooper" who does really?- I find more and more though I am, I can tend to be that person, the one to think negative before a positive thought comes into my mind. Lord I am taking back my mind to be for You, I am taking back my thoughts to think on You and I am taking back my heart to beat for You.

Amen.

Passion...

2010-01-19T22:04:00.000-08:00

God does not need PERFECT women He needs PASSIONATE women!

What does this phrase mean to you?

For me..

Passion according to Dictionary.com means "any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, an outburst of strong emotion or feeling, a strong or extravagant fondness" and much much more.. So as I sit pondering just passion what it would mean to truly live passionately...having a powerful feeling of love that caused me to burst into action I think I miss it..everytime i miss it! I feel like I have completely missed the point behind being "passionate"- maybe I linked it with being "compassionate?" - I really don't know.

I do know that I work a lot more at being liked, attractive, acurate, PERFECT in my daily life than I do humbling myself, asking God for guidance, taking time to be still and being PASSIONATE in the one who died on the cross for me! In John 15:16a it says "You did NOT choose me but I chose YOU"- I have been basking in that thought..He chose me...Like when all of us awkwards are lined up against the gym wall waiting to be picked..He picks us...and He is calling us to live passionately, to fight for Him, to share about Him, to love Him, to love His creation, to honor His teachings, to represent Him well but most definitely NOT to think we have to be perfect for Him.

Seems like such a Sunday School thought but don't we find ourselves putting on our little "show" just to see how many heads will turn and say "Wow look at her, she is so great..she is perfect!"

I should be sleeping...

2010-01-13T23:50:00.000-08:00

I should be sleeping but instead I am working. I always get in a productive mood right before bedtime. I feel like lately I have not been sleeping well and that I keep going to bed later and later but I guess that is just what happens when your body is not tired.

This week I am dwelling on this thought "That I am anointed" - God has anointed me and I am His. I need to remember "whose" I am to discover "who" I am. God is really teaching me that He is my father and I can truly rest in Him with all my worries and fears. I have storms stirring left right and center, satan is on the prowl...I wake up trembling, I drift off into thoughts that are not from God and I say words that should never be uttered out of my mouth..he is on the prowl..I however stand in the power of my Lord and can fight back! That I am trying to do with the help of God daily..Daily taking up my cross and following Him. I have been trying to focus every thought on Him from the wasted time at the sink brushing my teeth to my simple commute to work..I sing praises to Him...I shout "YOU REIGN" at the top of my lungs and I pondered His word in my heart..

May you remember this and dwell on it.

"It is not about who YOU are..go tell the world who "He" is!"

Thoughts from Walshy this early morning.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

Ben and I moved into our place today officially! Of course there are a few things that we have left to pick up from mom and dads but other than that we are set. It feels so werid but amazing to have our own flat. I have unpacked most of my stuff which feels so good because I really feel like I am at home. I mean there is not any food in the fridge and things but that is just minor..who needs food when ma and pa live up the road? haha! Kidding.

Well here is me signing out for the night..not much more to say.

Night.

It's Official!

2009-12-29T19:08:00.002-08:00

Been sitting on pins and needles since Christmas to write this blog, a few of you were blessed to know as soon as I recieved the news but for the rest here it is:

I am going to be an AUNTIE <--check that out!

August 26th .. pretty stoked!

Merry Christmas!

Joseph?

2009-12-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

Last night at our Advent service Pastor preached on Joseph. I never have really thought about him much, the man who went with Mary to have the Messiah. It seems every Christmas I think of Jesus, of Mary but I forget about Joseph.? I have wondered if maybe it is because I am a woman so I tend to feel more of the Mary feelings rather than the Joseph feelings.

Our Pastor told us there needs to be more Josephs in our world...

He went into the story of Jesus. He brought to light an important message of Joseph and the real "man" he really was. Here is a man who literally at first thought "why would she do this to me? I have remained pure and she goes behind my back and gets pregnant!"(referring to Mary). He then has a dream and we know how the story goes from there, he takes Mary as his own with Jesus. The amount of courage and trust and forgiveness for Him to be such a man of faith and wrap his arms around this son. A son who is not his own. Many can foster resentment when things do not go the way they have planned them but here is Joseph who after a bit of needed rest, dreams and is brought to the realization that this child is to be his own.

Some thoughts...this Christmas Eve.

Jesus is Coming!!!!!

2009-12-17T17:56:00.000-08:00

I am in full Christmas swing..life is frantic..I am trying to prepare a room for Him...in my house..in my heart! Christmas makes me go crazy, I love it but it makes me go nuts. There is never enough hours in a day. I find myself baking cookies at midnight, singing Silent Night in a hundred different made up accents and trying to find time to enjoy Advent. It is always a struggle to balance time but I am finding Him in the ordinary.

Yesterday as Mom and I "put" up Christmas in our house I undid boxes of memories..We are not one of those "designer" families (sorry mom! hehe) and I love that we aren't one. Our Christmas tree has no color scheme or theme..it is us, Bens pom pom guy, sparkly gluey pine cones, A&W bears and more..It is however real..it is how I remember it to be and hope for it to be in the future.

As we pulled out our Nativity all I could do was giggle..there was the angel dangling by and ornament hook (she must have hung on top of the stable once upon a time?!?) the poor Shepherd that got a little to close to a candle at one point in his life and the wisemen that Ben and I used to sneak and play with in his fisherprice castle..(sorry mom..!)! God is so good at reminding me of the love I have in this family, the memories from Christmases past and the hope for what is to come.

Be blessed!

You're a Puzzler..

2009-12-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

I take weekly or even sometimes daily visits to many of the Senior Lodges here in Grande Prairie. One of my favorite lodges by far is Wildrose Manor. I enjoy this visit because I am very fond of the people living there. I enjoy meeting new ladies, bumping into Troys gramma and I have two ladies there from the church who I go visit. There are some days when we play cards, build puzzles and drink tea and others where I wait for them to finish up their BINGO game.

This past Friday I popped in for a visit. One of my girls was busying playing BINGO while my other girl wasn't feeling so well so she was laying down. It was about 2:40 and I knew BINGO would not end until 3:00. As I was walking down to the open meeting area I saw my beloved Joyce nestled down with a puzzle. Joyce is a woman who grabbed my heart quite suddenly six months ago on my first visit to the lodge, she helped me get where I needed to be and at the end of my visits I sat with her for an hour and built a puzzle with her. She calls me a "Puzzler" and she is so cute. She always wants to finish a puzzle quick and surprise people, her joy blows me away. On Friday I sat with her and we built a puzzle together while BINGO wrapped up. I lost track of time and sat with her for 2 hours building a Christmas puzzle.

God is showing me that it is in the time and the quiet spent with others that love and acceptance are found. With Joyce and the puzzle we are busy on our task to get all the pieces in place, we work dilligently, quietly and patiently. I started thinking how if I worked with that same attitude I would be sure to accomplish more for the Lord. I thought of Elizabeth and Zechariah and how the angel told him he would not speak and what must have been running through his mind. Here is a man told his wife will be with child and he is literally speechless..I can see him getting ready for the arrival, making sure everything is in place and all without the worthless distraction of noise. I see him accepting the little faith he had in the temple and being blown away by his wifes growing belly.

If I did less talking and more focussing.....I think I would accomplish more...

Or if I did more praying and less talking I would accomplish more..

Something I have been pondering lately.

Are you joking me?

2009-11-26T20:48:00.000-08:00

I am a pretty confident person, most of my friends would label me the "strong outgoing type." I would agree most of the time. I am not socially awkward, I make friends easily and I am definitely not shy. Sometimes though I find myself in weird situations in which I act completely against who I am. Does this happen to you? Example..

On Tuesday I got back to work from my ladies bible study and was talking to the secretary, as we were chatting I noticed truck loads of young men parking in our parking lot. I gawked to see what the heck they were doing (wondering if I needed to go tell them about Jesus or not, lots of young men..hmm..evangelism event). I watched intently as I saw them bring hockey nets out from their trucks and began shoveling the parking lot into their very own hockey rink, it was so bizarre. Anyways as time went on I realized I really wanted to go home, for those who do not know I live across the parking lot literally.

As I was preparing myself for this task I got that sick feeling I used to get in the 8th grade when passing a boy I thought was cute..I got nervous! 22 year old me got nervous to walk home, thinking what would happen there is like 12 of them and one of me..ridiculous I know. So what did I do you may be thinking? The only logical thing to do..

I called Ben! haha! As he picks up the phone I explain my situation and ask him kindly if he would come "pick" me up for lack of a better term. He responds "Are you joking me? No!"- I hang up sort of sad and report to the secretary that he will not be picking me up..just then..He shows up. He is shaking his head in complete shock of how his confident "take no crap from anyone" sister is behaving. I make him wait with me for a few moments to make the trek home less awkward, he continues to tease me....

As we walk home I realise how big of a tool I am, how non-threatning these men are and how stupid I have acted. I am now the talk at dinner, the whole family mocks while we eat. I am still mocked the next day and probably forever..they bring up all the stupid things I have done and add this one to the book of stupids--Dad makes a funny "You should have got warranty on your walk home"- It stings...However, I know tomorrow someone else will add a stupid to their own book and we will laugh at them.

All in all I realize that no matter how "confident" I think I am, I am most definitely still in need of a Saviour...thank-you Jesus for keeping me humble- Amen.

Quiet Yourselves...

2009-11-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

"Preach the gospel always, If necessary use words." St. Francis of Assisi

*Lately I have not been able to get a "word in" and I believe that God is teaching me through my silence. He will come and save, I am just the messenger, the quiet messenger.

Nothing to blog about...

2009-11-05T22:22:00.000-08:00

...I guess there could always be something to blog about but lately my life has just been rough and nothing fun and exciting is cracking..

I could share my opinions on the H1N1 flu shot until my head wants to explode?

I could talk about how many halloweeners we had at our door? (ZERO!!)

I could talk about how cold snow is to kneel in?

I could talk about what I want for Christmas..?

Or I could just be silent, be still and take time to be with Him....I like this one..

God keeps bringing me to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and I think we should really let these verses sink into our bones....go ahead..look it up...God has been telling me lately to "zip it" so I think I will!

Is it your time to be silent? To laugh? To search? To mourn? To love? To mend? - Let Him speak to you..

Faith like a Child...

2009-10-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

On Friday night we are having a Fear Factor night for youth but we have dubbed in Faith VS Fear Factor- speaking to the idea of faith. This has got me think these last few days about faith, about my own faith, about certain amounts of faith I had before and the faith I want to have in the future. Matthew 18:3-4 states "And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." So then I got to thinking about having this kind of faith, what does it look like?

I stumbled upon this photo of me from many years ago and thought about the faith I had there. In this snapshot you see me, smiley me just sitting, just waiting...I must have had some sort of faith that we were either going somewhere or heading home either way I would wait until my mama or papa led the way. If I got hungry I am sure my mom had a snack packed along, if I got sad I am sure she would soothe me and most importantly I had this faith that I would be let out of this booster seat eventually. I just waited..and enjoyed the ride...I have been dwelling in Isaiah on "Waiting upon the Lord" and I think that applies all over my life, with faith like a child and patience I can step down and allow God to lead my life..I can just wait for Him to unbuckle my booster seat and lead me to my next adventure.

Concert

2009-10-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to a concert with some of my youth it was High Valley, Shaun Groves and Downhere. I am familiar with High Valley and love their music but just had such a beautiful night of praise, clapping and dancing. I loved it.

Downhere is a band that has so much flavor and they have a song called "How many Kings" and it spoke to me soooo much. I will leave you with the lyrics to the chorus so it can stir in your own heart the feelings of love, acceptance and sacrifice..

"Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?"

Faith in Jesus.

2009-10-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

As I sit on the side of a hospital bed my hand on her shoulder we pray bodly to our Jesus, heal this woman Lord from the pain. We ask God many things once the Amen rings true she looks up and says "I can't lose, I am in a win-win situation, I go to heaven or I get outta here"- What a beautiful statement.

As I sit on the floor at her feet undoing all the knots in her ball of yarn she talks about days gone by, how I am not getting anything finished in my own knitting project and how Jesus is speaking to her. She says "I cannot see anymore, your wearing red I think, I can't taste the food I eat and I cannot smell it but I remember His words "my grace is sufficient for you.." and that is how I go through my days."- Wow..

As I sit out in the hall of the Senior Lodge we sit at the table, we sip coffee, tea and we laugh, oh we laugh from way down in our being. We talk about TV Evangelists and their idols they create how if we pay $19.99 we can get the special green healing blanket and she shakes her head in disgust. She talks about those around her that are lost then she speaks of a lady who sits at her table during meal time "she is a Jehovah Witness Sarah and I want to tell her about Jesus but I am scared, I don't know what to say but I know God would want me to tell her the truth"- We pray for courage.

Know He cares, He loves and He smiles knowing that His servants are not content with they ways of the world, they are waiting for Him, they are spreading His word, they are discerning the "other" voices trying to lead them away and they cling to Him. Faith in Jesus is all these ladies have, all I have.

am I a squirrel?

2009-10-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

This last week I was in Camrose and then I went down to Calgary for a few days to have a little "retreat" for myself so I could learn to breathe again. While on my Calgary retreat I discovered a retreat within a retreat. I went to this beautiful place outside of the city called Kings Fold and spent the day with God. It was such a beautiful day spent watching, waiting and listening for what God wanted to teach me..

I am a Squirrel.

As I sat in the Chapel on this gorgeous property and watched this Squirrel trying to embrace the sudden snowfall. He jumped around, paused, twitched and then would just freak out! He was hilarious to watch and I just stood there thinking is that what I look like? When I am thrown into a new surrounding or have a new adventure..do I freak out instead of embracing what it is and accepting it as my reality. This little Squirrel probably was thinking "I am not ready for winter!"- I feel like this a lot, I am not ready for a lot but with faith in my God I know He will make me ready. God reached me at my retreat within a retreat even if it was only to compare me to a twitchy squirrel.

The Beauty Of Vegetables...

2009-09-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

Today a good friend of my mothers dropped off bags full of vegetables at our house. I have always enjoyed a fresh carrot from the garden or a tomato off the vine but today I was reminded of how long it had been since I had been in a garden. There is such beauty in vegetables that have come from a garden, they are still dirty and they are all unique. Each carrot looks different, the cucumbers are fat and weird looking and the turnips are all different sizes not to mention the random shapes of the potato. I started to think today about how much our society has "perfected" the art of everything. All carrots seem to look the same, potatos are the perfect size and such...we create our own "perfect" everythings. This is not real though! We create this false reality not only with cucumbers but with ourselves.

I have been involved in a Bible study on Ester "It's tough being a woman" - and it is based so far on how we tend to compare ourselves to others. This morning I found myself comparing myself to turnips, cucumbers and carrots. We are all unique creations of our Maker and we were never meant to be the carbon copies of each other.

Today as we dropped two bags of vegetables off at a friends of ours I thought it was interesting to watch their daughter. She ripped open the bags and thought "what is this?"(holding a cucumber)- We told her what it was and she said "I have never seen one like this!" There was this excitement in her eyes like she was diving into this brand new vegetable world- little baby green tomatoes? Carrots with dirt all over them?- As I bit the end off of a carrot with her I said she should try some..she said "Nooooo"- She went into the fridge and grabbed her bag of baby carbon copy carrots and ate those..

I thought: "Isn't that just like how we are, we would rather conform to the world than eat something or "be" something different from the rest!"

My prayer is that we will truly "Be" the people that God created us to be in this world, Amen.

When it rains..it pours.

2009-09-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

Today was a rainy day in my life.

God is really teaching me to let go, let Him in and to be at peace with that. Today as the Holy Spirit took over I cried..I cried in my pew..I cried while I sang..I cried as I walked up to communion..I cried at the rail..I cried all the way back to my pew. As Ben wrapped his arms around me in church this morning I felt like the storms in my life were brewing at an ultimate high. God hears me, He hears the cry of His people...I need to be reminded of that. I'm not depressed, I'm not angry but I am tired..tired of sadness..tired of pain..tired of unexplainable death..tired of sorrow..tired of bitterness..tired of being jealous..tired of being selfish..tired of satan having control over people the way he does. God is with me, in this world I will have trouble, but He has overcome the world(John 16:20) I need to be reminded of this verse in my life.

"rain come down, come and heal these sores, wash them clean, come and heal my soul."- Brie Stoner

Benny is 18! And we are still the same...

2009-09-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

It is my little brothers birthday today..he is 18..it is neat. We will induldge in Newfie supper and cake this evening before he goes on his wild adventure to the bar...pray pray pray..I always pictured things to be different when he turned 18, I would be married..I don't know..I would be older, wiser etc..

I am still the same it seems or should I say ..we are... we still live at home, we still sit in our same spots at the dinner table, we cuddle on the couch together still, we laugh at the same jokes and it seems like he is still that little boy in the oversized shirt and underwear sleeping in his little beddy. I mean of course his bed is bigger then it was back then and yes he has gotten a wee bit more wiser but it is neat how God has bound us together and that we can still talk to each other. Not every bunch of siblings gets that, some lose touch, some lose love and some just lose hope. I love that little man..And I wish him a GREAT birthday!

On another note..Youth group starts tonight, we are going to play some games, watch clips from a movie and eat banana splits..God is so good!

I'm a 7 or an 8?

2009-09-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Last night I came home from a long evening of playing with kids and forming more laugh lines on my face to come face to face with Ben's friend Kyle.

Kyle is an interesting fellow. He always want to get into it with me about religion which usually makes me chuckle or start to steam. He always makes up these crazy scenarios that are so impossible and he just waits to see how I will try to answer them.

Some of his questions I merely respond "You're stupid Kyle!"- he just laughs.

Last night it was this "If God is all powerful and can walk through crazy storms and stuff, could He microwave a Burrito so hot that even himself couldn't eat it?" -WHAT!! Welcome to my life of not so religious but still religious debate..I told him that God could if he wanted to, then went on to say that Jesus could have come off the cross, He could have stopped the mallet from driving the nail into His palm but He didn't, so I said I guess if God was ever microwaving a burrito and wanted to see how hot it was He could in fact not be able to eat it because it was too hot..what do you out there think? Oh what a guy..

Then he was telling me how he can get different levels of drunk like +6 drunk which then means a girl that he thought was a 1 would now become a 7 and on and on..Then I lashed back with Ben sitting there and said to Kyle "So how do you base your ratings of girls? And how would a girl like me rate?" - Pressure...He said "Well Sarah it is a number of things personality, looks, what their wearing at the time"..and then he looked at me quite intently(while I am laying on the couch and pipes up).."I think you are a 7 or an 8.."- Just average I thought but he said that 5 is average..I then lashed back that I am a princess so therefore I am at least a 10..then I asked him if he wanted me to rate him...He didn't want me to...

No matter which dummy tries to tell you who you are between 1 to 10..know that you are a 10..always a 10 and that dummy knows nothing. You are daughters of a King and I am 100% sure we rate 10!

May He bless you today..

Pumpkin Spice Latte...oops..

2009-09-08T00:28:00.000-07:00

...a delicious blend of pumpkin and traditional fall spice flavors combined with our signature espresso and freshly steamed milk, and topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices...

Did somebody say espresso? Ahhhhh!

It is 1:30 in the am on Tuesday September 8th and my eyes will not close hence this blog entry. If those of you do not know me that well I will state this "I don't drink coffee." The last time I did this it was forced on me by a sweet little old lady and the result was me bouncing around the church office scaring people. The time before that I thought I could handle it so roomate Nat Nat and I induldged..result= 3:00am singing "Lean on Me" while the rest of the group who had slept through our movie night awoke quite shocked at our display, we swayed and everything.

I don't do coffee..I thought it was a tea...I took a sip knew it was most definitely coffee but had to drink it. I mean no I was not held up at gun point and told to drink the latte or else but I did spend nearly five dollars on a drink that later would keep me up until the wee hours of the morning writing a blog entry.

My eyes are open, they wont close and I have a BIG week ahead of me..Lord make me sleepy! Oh I pray!

BIG BASEBALL!

2009-08-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

Our church team "The Goodnews Bears" played in a final tournament this weekend and we rocked! By stating "we rock" I mean we sucked! Now suck is a harsh term to use because we all tried our hardest but I still have no other words to express how unfortunate we were as a team. We did however win one game because the team we were scheduled to play dropped out of the tournament..woot..7-0 victory! But other than that we weren't very impressive. I play second base and to sum up my weekend I will use a few short phrases. "Ball to the breast!- ouch!, we have to tag on a force? Yes this is me falling while warming up..wow! My legs hurt. Give me that old time religion! Oh I am supposed to swing at the ball? Sarah aka Bratty Bear AND I feel like a big marshmallow holding a glove!

It was a great weekend. Made us all laugh, we did have fun..or in some cases "ppppHUn!" but I thank God that He didn't leave my survival in this world up to my baseball skills!

I found the above picture..laughed a lot..I think that would be an accurate depiction of how I looked on second base...

Weddings and a Mission trip...

2009-08-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

..some photos from Mike and Alex's Wedding. August 8th, 2009.

I have been busy! I was down in BC on holidays and got to enjoy seeing Elli marry her bestfriend David while I was surrounded in some of my bestest friends...Jeff cough Rogness cough..to name a few. It was a beautiful day filled with Gods' love and the joy was evident all over.

Then came a week of lounging in the sun and praying to get rid of my sick tan lines for my brothers wedding. The lines were still evident but the love filled the day so full they were not obvious to anyone. We partied hard, laughed harder and danced until we hurt. It was the perfect day for Mike and Alex and I could feel their joy in my own heart.

The day after Mike's wedding I went to Vancouver Island to induldge in a Mission trip which was an amazing experience. God found us there and shined in and through us during our time as we ministered to the children around us. The more we learned about each child the more our heart burned for them to know the real truth about God our Father. It was a great time of team bonding as I got to know our youth on a more personal level.

God is good! September is coming..and I am busy..but God is good!

Wilderness camp..

2009-07-18T23:17:00.001-07:00

I am off tomorrow after church for a week long adventure with about 20 of our youth and the wilderness. It is the church summer camp when we spend a week doing nothing more than roughing it, cooking on open fire and singing. .. Well I hope we will be singing..

Tonight I wrestled with my hiking backpack to get it all in, got it all together and reminded myself "it does all fit you've done this before!" - discovered that the "new" thermorest I was given might have a slow leak so I am quite nervous about sleeping on a leaky matress for a week..hmm..discovered this house has no batteries and that I am exhausted!

It will be interesting - this week of random fun crazy tiring and I am sure frustrating events but God is in it. And this verse keeps running through my mind :

"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her." Hosea 2:14 -- thanks Steve Kaack

In the King James it says "wilderness in place of desert" appropriate I thought!

From the mouth of a babe...

2009-07-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

This week is VBS at our church, the theme is GADGETS GARAGE!

GADGET- God's Always Doing Great Exciting Things!

He is!

My favorite memories are little girls hugging me, little boys being to tough to do action songs, kids shouting songs so they can be the loudest, coming home singing the songs but mostly a little boy Drake. He only said 8 words to me this whole week so far but they were enough to reinforce why I do what I am doing up here in Grande Praire.

He ran up to me and said "HI my name is Drake I LOVE JESUS!" I replied quickly "I love Jesus too!" - with that he happily ran away and continue to do the actions to "If I were a butterfly"

God never ceases to amaze me with His divine appointments.

Chris Tomlin- Tea- Wind- Tears..

2009-06-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was such a sad woe is me sort of a day. I felt so lonely. I guess it could have been the fact that my parents are off on vacation, that Ben was in Edmonton the day and night before and that Charlie was ignoring me. It however was just depressing. I sat on my bed Sunday morning with wet hair, half dressed crying. This wasn't messy crying, wasn't can't breathe crying it was just sweet tears rolling down my cheek. It was one of those moments as I sat there listening so intently to the words playing in the background

"Praise the Father, Praise the Son. Praise the Spirit, Three in One. Clothed in power and in grace the name above all other names."

that tears just fell. I guess I reflected for what felt like a split second! Reflected on my life in Calgary, my life here and life in general really.

Then tonight as I went to grab a bag of my cinnamon apple tea I discovered it was GONE! Noooo! So sad. It is blowing psycho wind outside and there is none of my favorite tea. It is okay though as I sit here sipping peppermint tea and looking at the wind I can see how much God is in my life, even in the crap He is here.

2009-06-23T10:52:00.003-07:00

Welcome to a week of my summer! I love it!

2009 VBS Gadget's Garage

2009-06-23T10:52:00.001-07:00

Going to British Columbia!

2009-06-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

In August I am going with the church to BC to join the Mission Boat Missionaries there and serve in a remote place called Zeballos. I am pretty excited about this!

Before this though I will be attending a good friends wedding and then my brothers. Speaking of my brothers the red non fitting bridesmaid dress is getting work done and as of yesterday it did in fact fit my curvy body. I was excited about that a lot. I think it will be really pretty when it is all said and done.

I get to hang out with Ben tonight, it is his last day of school forever! Crazy..

That's all folks.

Grandma is coming..and Grandpa?? what?

2009-06-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

So my gramma is coming this weekend to visit. Gramma, Uncle Larry and Auntie Sue will make the long painful trek to not so freezing Grande Prairie for super fun times this weekend. Who knows what we will really end up doing but oh well. One thing odd about this week has been my response to the question

"What are you doing this weekend?"

I keep responding "My grandma and grandpa are coming to visit" - what?

For those who are unaware I have not had a grandpa on either side since I was a wee little girl so it is odd that I keep answering this question this way. I find myself confused thinking "why do I keep saying this?"

Today I pondered a little farther...maybe because if you have a grandma you should have a grandpa? If you have a mother you should have a father? I don't know what it is. They just fit together like hand in glove. A grandma should have a grandpa but sometimes one goes way befor the other.

Anyways, I made my gramma a teddy from Teddy Ville which is Grande Prairies version of Build a Bear- It's a pig! hehe!

We won...by one point!

2009-06-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Baseball is going pretty good. We lost our first game brutally, then won our second 23-8 and then this last one we worked hard and won by one point!

I struck out, due to closed eyes. I then started to try and love the game and got two players out at second and then cranked the ball and made it to home plate, no big deal really!

I took a lady out for lunch who isn't completely with it and she ordered steak, expensive steak..what was I to do? Nothing! So I did nothing..our lunch bill was $50 dollars, I had chicken tenders, contemplated ordering off the kids menu but I am sure Jesus would of let her have steak so I let her have whatever her heart desired.

Then I went off roading with the pastor. I think I love my life. But we did drive down many range roads for an hour and a half to this campsite where we will be having our church campout. Then we off roaded to the river, quite intense.

Pretty decent Monday.

Babe Ruth wannabe..

2009-05-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

I joined the Church baseball team not because I thought I would be any good but because I need to meet people in a non threatning atmosphere. So here I am with a bat in my hands wanting to scream when "Big Bob" pitches the ball. I don't remember being that afraid of the ball when I was younger, maybe I always was. I hit pretty good when my eyes are open but most of the time I am trying to swing with squinty eyes because somehow I feel that if I can't see the ball I won't be afraid. I'm pretty stupid. Dad (he plays too) keeps yapping "eye on the ball Sarah" whatever man! When I crack one it flies but I need to learn to focus on that dang ball, as it gets closer I get more freaked out. I also use sound affects to cope with my fear, ahhhh, eeeee, woooo, oh oh oh deeeeaaaar, gaaah....etc...

We are called the "Goodnews Bears" pretty funny if you ask me but I am sure it has a long history and was someones clever idea.

One Youth has dubbed me "Babe Ruth" (he has been around when I crack that ball)- So whenever I am up to the plate he cheers for me "come on babe ruth"..I think its classic. He is also quite helpful in giving me tips on my batting stance, like I'm listening to him through my squinty eyes, jeeeesh.

I got to thinking that I have no idea what Babe Ruth looked like so I googled him, not the most handsome man but he sure has a game face and some good words of wisom

""Love the game of baseball and baseball will love you."

I like it, has a nice ring to it. I think I will apply that next time I am squinting at the plate. To be honest I think I will apply it to a lot of things, my new job, my friends, my family, my coworkers, my body, my heart and soooo much more. I think the more loving we do the more we are going to see coming back our way.....

Soo...

2009-05-20T08:44:00.003-07:00

Ben graduated, then it poured rain..then it SNOWED! hmm..Awesome!

GUESS WHAT!

2009-05-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

Baby Bennny boo boo boo boo boo boo Benny is freakin' GRADUATING!

what!?!?!?!?

Hold the phone!

"Did you say "baby" benny?"

YUP! I sure did! Cap and gown and everything..even a tuxedo! YES! I said tuxedo!

Wooot!

Nice weather isn't always enough...

2009-05-06T09:56:00.001-07:00

How does a person knock the discontent sad feeling? I am trying to knock it.

It's May...new adventure at hand..

2009-05-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

Because I miss the Ocean.

I am home now in Grande Prairie and all unpacked. My life is surrounding me on every side, pictures, letters and memories of the past little while. I feel restless but rested. I have odd feelings. I am pretty sure this is what it means to "lean on the everlasting arms" because I am feeling a little anxious. I just want to get started and immersed in the ministry here but I must wait...ha..just until tomorrow..but still!

My mom's surgery went very well. She is in a lot of pain though so please pray for a fast good recovery. She just is very tired due to the medication so also pray she will get the rest she is desiring. She is such a fighter.

More snow...

2009-04-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday..it's snowing...it makes me giggle!

I think God is teaching me that "when life throws your lemons make lemonade" or in my case "when God sends snow go stand in it barefoot!"- I mean why not...?!?

We had some girls over tonight, watched movies, ate food, laughed, and most of the girls complained about the white stuff falling from the sky! I like it, the snow that is..I like it! Is that weird to sort of smile because it is snowing at the end of April? I think I like the fact that it is still warm out so you can walk out barefoot in the snow, or that the flowers in our garden are about to bloom and now there petals have those HUGE beautiful snowflakes on them. Speaking of snowflakes, they are the big fluffy ones that seem soooo fake..I love them..especially when you catch one on your tongue..

Winter in April- My favorite!

A Birthday blog!

2009-04-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

I turned 22 on the 22 of April! Wooot Big Deal!

On the 21st though I went out on the town with Nat and 3 othere friends to the cutest Italian restaurant where we sipped red wine and giggled with each other. It was the most marvelous birthday eva! I wore my new black dress I got for 21 dollars a few days previous and tried to look Hot! Those were my instructions from Nat except she just told me to be hot..not to try. It was really fun. I enjoyed being dolled up and being surrounded with a bunch of girls who have meant a lot to me!

Then on my actual birthday I induldged in many episodes of Road to Avonlea in my pjs on the couch, one of the BEST days eva. Nat then gave me my birthday present (a pciture frame of photos of us- LOVE IT!) and then we just cuddled all day while waiting for my flowers to come from my mom. Then it snowed..Yesssss! So funny..Then we had to leave to go to the church to help out with this community dinner, so fun also..And Then..a bunch of people came over to our house for tea, cake and conversation...THEN my friend Ginny and I went to Boston Pizza at 11 until 1..it was just soooo fun to chat so much and feel so loved.

Here are some photos of birthday fun times...and one photo of my cleaned car for my dad as proof that it really does exist!

MAMMA MIA! ...

2009-04-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

Sing Along Version!

Last night and also a few nights ago I have induldged in Mamma Mia the movie. However unlike most movie indudgences I did not just sit their zoned out on a movie. I was a part of it! Natashia bought Mamma Mia a few weeks ago and we discovered it has a "sing along" version. On Friday before she went to work we watched it and sang along. Last night at my friend Sarahs house we watched it again, four friends (Sarah, Ginny, Nat and I) and sang our hearts out while induldging in chocolate fondu. If you want a fun time get Mamma Mia and sing along, deep down we know your toes are probably tapping when you watch the show so this time be a part of it...

Money, Money, Money,

Must be funny,

In a Rich Mans world.....

Enjoy!

Emotions..

2009-04-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

A lot of the time I feel like a doormat- here I am, just scuff your dirty boots on me and carry on you merry way.

Guess who is visiting me...

2009-04-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

BENNY BOO BOO!!!

AND he is here until Thursday..best Easter of life..

Happy Birthday...MOM!!!!!

2009-04-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

This lady is pretty "freakin" awesome! I am not even kidding ya. She is one hip momma bear who knows how to care and love for her baby bears! I have learnt so much from this woman, how to love, how to trust, how to learn, how to carry on, how to be patient, how to stand up for what you believe in, how to be quiet, how to cook, how to laugh, how to sing, how to cry, how to forgive, how to pray, how to be honest, how to respect others, how to tie my shoes, how to brush my teeth, how to go to the potty...sooooo much! I just love her to bits! MOM you are my bestfriend, God knew what He was doing when He sent me to you...

As nanny would sing and I agree:

A mother's love's a blessing
No matter where you roam
Keep her while she's living
You'll miss her when she's gone
Love her as in childhood
Though feeble, old and grey
For you'll never miss a mother's love
Till she's buried beneath the clay

I love you Mom**

Love pookey..

Hal the snowman..

2009-04-02T17:14:00.001-07:00

This last weekend was glorious..especially my Sunday in the sun! It started with church, then we(Nat, Sarah and I) went for lunch at the "Heartland Cafe" a super sweet neighbourhood place that we walked too because it is super close to home and was beautiful out! After lunch we went to a knitting store and a bead store which we all have walked passed at least once since being here in Calgary and have thought "I should go in there!"- so we did- naturally! We then went on a walk to "Campbell Hill" which is a nature park or maybe a dog park? There were lots and lots of pooches.

We built Hal the snowman up there..Then we went to a random open house and strolled down the "actual" Blackfoot Trail here in Calgary- super coool! Then..yes there is more..we went to Sarah's house and had some Chai Tea..we love Chai! And.."milk frother, milk frother"! Then had some pizza and went to the cheap theatre to watch "Bridewars"- it was good..and we ate too much popcorn..yesss this is still all just on Sunday.

THEN..on our way home we all were wondering if Hal would still be alive..so we went to see. Walking through the park in the dark freaked me out of my tree, and as both Sarah and I hand in hand began to slow down while spotting the random thing in the distance..nat nat did not..she then screamed as the black object sped towards us..I was about to dropkick the rabid psycho beast when my vision cleared to see that it was just a pooch out on a walk- good thing! We found Hal..MURDERED! And all that we smelt around him was marijuana..what a doper! We also agreed that the next time we suggest walking through a dog park in the dark that we should just say NO!

When the Saints go marching in...

2009-03-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

Today at church we meditated on James 2:14-17 :

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

I am feeling convicted lately to live a life for Christ, to think of no one but Him in all that I do. I will struggle, I will fail but I will try...try to devote the parts of me I can for His glory... Both on Thursday and Saturday I was able to watch CLBI's spring tour called "Streaming" it was here that I have come face to face with life's reality..we need to be as one..they will know we are christians by our love...my name is worth more than all of this...I do not want to dishonor my name...my life is worth more than this..I cannot waste my life....because..

"when the saints go maching in, I want to be one of them.."

Well I should post about LIFE!

2009-03-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

I am moving! For serious I am once again packing up all of my belongings and moving again. I feel like I only do life for eight months at a time and then it is off to something else. Well for those of you who only hear from me through this blog I will elaborate on said moving situation...The "random" interview I attended in Grande Prairie turned out to be rather "marvelous" and well I was offered the job and given time to pray and think about the idea of accepting. After praying, crying, and talking I made the decision to go..to move back home to Grande Prairie to see what this oppurtunity has for me. As of now I am excited, it seems they know what they want, they have answered all my questions so all in all I am contented with my decision. It will be sad also though to leave the people I care about here and go home again but time will tell. I just have such a peace that this is the right choice for me right now...

That's me, living eight months at a time waiting for direction and then following the leader..Sometimes I suck at the following game but I am trying to get a bit better at surrendering "my" wants at the foot of the cross and taking on "His" wants for my life.

Photo Shoot and the DEATH puddle!

2009-03-18T17:09:00.001-07:00

The snow is melting revealing..

2009-03-14T12:52:00.001-07:00

the earth below

I love when the snow starts to melt, when you walk outside and there is a breeze of fresh warm air. It for me marks a time of renewal, refreshment and restoration. Spring is coming, beauty is about to bloom literally, it is exciting. I know I have to relax because I am situated in Calgary and I am pretty sure this is what they call a "chinook" but I love it! I love the random winter/spring/winter/spring transition, it keeps me on my toes. Yesterday as I dodged puddle after puddle I just decided to embrace the coldness of melting snow. Wearing princess shoes and walking through puddles brings more than a smile to my face, it brings contentment in my soul. I plan to wear capris today, with my princess shoes and hopefully step into a few puddles on accident, maybe even on purpose.

Home again..to discover..

2009-03-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

1) I might move!

2) I like mini eggs!

3) Street Fighter for XBOX kicks but!

4) It is still cold out.

5) I want to quit my present job like now..ha..so I can just play for awhile.

Life is something else I tell ya!

I'm going home to.....

2009-03-05T16:59:00.000-08:00

HUG BENNY BOO BOO BOO BOO BOO BENNY!!

WELL and also to go to some random job interview at my parents church for a possible random job that I most certainly did not apply for. The entire situation my friends is all around "random". Please pray for clarity and direction..

In the meantime "Party like a rockstar" - That's what me and little benny will be up to!

Sikh Service.

2009-03-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday I went to a Sikh service with my roomie, and friends. It was our excuse to wear our saris and eat Indian food plus just pretend we were in India. It was a lot of fun and the people were sooooo wonderful, no shocker there. The food was semi-good..some of it I know I had had in India and did not like so I did not eat it, all in all though it was a good experience. However, it made me sad to see the devotion people have to such an impersonal God. I could never be Sikh, there is no freedom..work work work your way up the "steps" and hope to transmigrate..hopefully because I am a woman into a man...seems so..sad. However, I did learn a lot about them, how they try to view everyone equal and are open to other people from different religious backgrounds showing up to worship with them. Once again the Priest spoke in some language (punjabi maybe) and I did not understand one single word. They did introduce their "Canadian visitors" aka "us" and butchered each of our names, I truly felt as if I was back in India.

It was a heart wrenching, brain stretching, lovely experience.

pray for the sikh.

Ash Wednesday..

2009-02-26T20:21:00.000-08:00

A mark on our forhead, a reminder of the sacrifice to come, a realization that the sacrifice was made and the reality that we are living in the freedom of that one act each and every day.

I enjoy Ash Wednesday, I like the time to stop, listen, reflect, cry and remember why I am a Christan, why I believe what I do and how I can only make it through with help. There is a beautiful comfort in letting go, in confessing, in listening to our own hearts cry out to the Lord of heaven and earth. During communion I stood infront of two men, two pastors, two brothers in Christ and realized the level of respect I have for these two individuals. As they broke the bread and poured the wine for me, I saw Jesus, I saw Him there, met Him there and wept like I always do when I meet Jesus in His place of worship, I weep. I love that God wants to show Himself to me, I love that He cares that much.

I didn't have ashes on my forhead this year, we didn't attend the traditional "Lutheran/Catholic" service. I instead will pray with God that I wear that cross on my forhead always, not just on Ash Wednesday.

The Moose Hat!

2009-02-23T17:30:00.001-08:00

Not much has been happenning but I thought I should post something. I have just been busy at work learning the ropes, busy helping at the church and then just busy hanging out. I had a really good week full of friends and love. I enjoyed it. I needed it!

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

Well..it has been quite the time for me. WOW.

I am the Educational Program Director here in Calgary at a place called Spaceport, which is like a science centre buisness. I went to Camrose on Tuesday night to visit Pastor Jim and Chad for one day. I have been feeling very busy lately. I have a long weekend which I plan to play a lot during. I am going to Banff on Monday to sit in the Hot Springs. Nat and I went bowling with a bunch of friends last night and wore matching toques, mitts and our "No Condemnation" sweatshirts, it was sweet (Troy we wished you were there!). Tonight calls for a possible taco/dutch blitz/movie night with the friendsys.

I feel happy, and feeling something has been rare this last little while.

Hope you find the one you love today!....sick...

Well..

2009-02-05T17:23:00.000-08:00

Basically I am an Astronaut.

Pretty much a big deal.

Job Search..

2009-01-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

I am nesteld in Calgary searching for a job..SICK! I hate looking for jobs. I have applied for 2 and have decided I am done now! haha!

I will hed up to Edmontom tomorrow with Nat Nat to meet up with Ally Ba Ba and Mamma dearest for Breakforth fun times.

After this then I will crack right down on the job searching buisness..

It is so beautiful out today I love it!

Done, Home..ahhh.

2009-01-25T14:12:00.000-08:00

Lots of changes have been happenning.

I finished!

I then drove all day Saturday home to Grande Prairie to surprise my Pa for his birthday, it is marvelous to be home! I will leave Tuesday and go back to Calgary to be reunited with my long lost girl Nat Nat for amazing fun times.

It is neat to be home, surrounded by love, a time of reflection and renewal. I have a lot to think about, I have a life to live, I am living it I suppose, day by day, It is just weird to think I am at a definite crossroads and wherever I feel led I can go..wow!

much love..

10 days have past!

2009-01-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

An update..

*2 more days of practicum.

*It is snowing today.

*My older brother is engaged.

*My older brother's fiancees dads in the hospital.

*My dads birthday is on Saturday :)

*My little brother is in the middle of diplomas in High School/newsflash he is in grade 12! Ah!

*Soon it is breakforth.

Life carries on, it gets busy, I swim in it and pray I don't sink. This last week has been especially good for me a little redemption of the practicum I have been hating. It has given my perspective on other areas in the lab I could work so that is exciting. This is an end for me, I will be done and able to make a choice as to what I think I want to do after this. There is no schedule. It is weird to just "be" with your life. I like it though.

HEY TROY..if you read this?

2009-01-12T21:07:00.000-08:00

Today I had a "banana and nutella crêpe" thought you would like to know.

One Week down....two to go...

2009-01-09T14:56:00.000-08:00

I am tired! Hearing the alarm buzz at 4:45am is hard to handle..But I handled it and it is now Friday and have finished one whole week of practicum. One more week of poking patients and then one more of behind the scenes work with no poking of people.

I can make it! I am so thankful for how God is showing me I can do this! I feel so tired, useless and sick most of the time with no desire to push onwards.

We had more snow last night, Lethbridge is a white as it ever could be! It reminds me of being home with mom and dad in Grande Prairie.

Well chow..

Surviving?

2009-01-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

I guess that is what some would call it. I am making it, treking along doing what I can to be positive and pray for God to come into each second of my day and days to follow.

Based on being so terribly bitter about my schooling and practicum I have decided to look at things from a completely different angle.

-I only have to poke people for 8 more working days, that is totally within my reach even though I am so easily wavered to think not.

-I only have 13 more working days of my complete practicum before I am finished with SAIT and can go work at some stupid place in Calgary with Nat Nat.

-On that note...17 or 18 more days until I can cry a whole 8 weeks worth of tears on Nat Nats shoulder while we do shots of ice tea and watch some sappy flick- I cannot wait for that one!

-I think I can make it! I know I can even though I daily feel like I cannot.

Sarah --mommy I miss you..

Noooooooooooooooooo!

2009-01-02T21:22:00.000-08:00

I go back soon...back to Lethbridge...back to practicum...back to the reward system!

I don't want too!!! I want to quit! Work for my dad, make lots of money and then go live in a dung hut somewheres, wanna join me?

I am now an official "grown up" I think, my dad said "you gotta finish what you started."

"WHY?"

He is right...I "need" to finish...then what...work in it? make some moolah to support my little Joyce over in the Philippines? sounds like a plan...

I don't want to! Such a complainer am I..

Happy New Year!

Almost a New Year...

2008-12-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

I feel ready for 2009. Do you?

I am ready to in some ways be done with 2008.

Not that it wasn't a good year, it was but I am ready to press on and move forward.

As we move forward may we be reminded to pray for thos affected by tragedy in 2008. May we continue to seek the Lord for guidance and understand the value of our lives. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families in Sparwood affected by the avalanche. We know all of you and hurt with you. May God continue to reveal himself to you in 2009.

Happy almost New Year!

Christmas grief.

2008-12-29T17:33:00.000-08:00

My older brother Mike, his girlfriends cousins husband was killed in an avalanche in the Elk Valley. I know the cousin very well and they were just recently married and they have a 6 month old baby together. My brother and his girlfriend are watching the baby right now.

Pray for Christ to be there, for them to see Him and for comfort. The Lord only knows they need it so bad right now!

thanks.

Quick Christmas Post!

2008-12-28T12:47:00.000-08:00

Just a little Merry Christmas greeting from our "new" home in Grande Prairie! The basement is much larger and warmer than the old one.

My older brother did not make it home for Christmas but spent it with his girlfriend in BC. My younger brother ditched me on December 26th to go to BC (Castlegar) to spend some time with his little honey over the holiday season. Alas, here I am alone with mom and dad, knew this day would come sooner than later. Maybe next Christmas I could ditch the family for a boyfriend, ha not likely.

Must go now and start cleaning the old house.

Blessings...

HOME! and have been tagged...

2008-12-24T09:36:00.001-08:00

I made it home for Christmas and it is truly lovely to be home.

I have been "picture tagged" by both Jes and Bonnie, to post the 5th picture in my 5th picture file. So there it is! A bicycle rickshaw!...This photo was taken during my one month stay in India two Christmas' ago now! WOW! That was a long time ago. Anyways..to explain the picture a little better. Catherine, Natashia and I were at our good friends Vardhinis relaxing in India when we decided it would be lots of fun to go on a rickshaw. At the time we all had in mind the "auto" rickshaw not so much the bicycle ones we almost always hit with our jeep when driving through Chirala. To make a long hilarious story short we ended up with 3 of these instead, I almost cried when I got on in fear that I was actually going to really die this time in India. As you probably know now I did not die. It was a eventful day of singing, eating ice cream and making one "flaming" joke that will never get old.

there you have it..

I tag...
-Cassy
-Marian
-BreAnn
-Courtney
-Sam

Merry Christmas.

I'm going home...tomorrow!

2008-12-19T13:37:00.000-08:00

I fly tomorrow at 5:50am...

I will arrive to GP at aprox 12:59pm

Just in time to move nicely into our new home!

Ahhh..

Can't wait..