beauty from pain...

Winter in Winterpeg...

2008-11-10T07:48:00.003-06:00

Well, it looks like Winter 2008 has started... this is what I saw at the bus stop on Friday morning...

Winter, *sigh*... the winter's here are always so long. When I was a kid, I hated winter... I mean, I liked the usual Christmas-time and my birthday... but I mean, getting all bundled up, just to go out in the freezing cold... who would CHOOSE to live in a place like that??

As I get older, I am starting to enjoy winter... not the cold part, I don't think I'll EVER get adjusted to that, but the cozyness of coming in from the cold, the thrill of shopping for others for Christmas, the baking, the getting together with family, the joy of the holidays, and everything in between....

I find it interesting how the season of "winter" is often associated with a season of "death" or "no growth" in our walk... I feel that way... like I'm not moving forward, no matter what I do, I always feel 10 steps behind, and the harder I try to run to catch up, the more I slip on the "ice" around me and I fall down...

But as frustrating as I find this season, it is also beautiful. In this cold and dreary season, God gave us His Son. How amazing! Out of cold He brought a warm and cozy baby.... out of the "death" of the season He brought new life... out of this season of "no growth" He brought a baby - which if you are not aware they grow VERY fast (which is why they eat so much, or often!)

So now, looking back on my earlier comments of my personal life, I am excited.... I wonder what He will do with my life in this "cold" season...

I pray that God will continue to bless you all in whatever season you are in!

Keep warm this winter season...

words gone extinct...

2008-11-05T07:55:00.002-06:00

in the most recently written Time magazine, there was an article that really caught my attention... it was entitled "War of the Words" and it basically stated that the editors of the popular dictionary in England "Collins" are editing out some words that they feel no one uses anymore... I read the list of words that they listed and they all sound intelligent and fun... so here's the list, and I hope that maybe you can incorporate some of these words into your vocabulary and make this world a more wonderfully wordy place....

compossible - adj. - possible in coexistence
mansuetude - n. - gentleness or mildness
apodeictic - adj. - unquestionably true by virtue of demonstration
caducity - n. - perishableness
malison - n. - a curse
fubsy - adj. - short and stout
embrangle - vb. - to confuse or entangle
niddering - adj. - cowardly
olid - adj. - foul smelling
appugnant - adj. - combative, antagonistic or contrary
roborant - tending to fortify
nitid - bright, glistening

so please choose some (or all ;D) of these words and appear more intelligent than you really are!! :D

Wordful Wednesday

2008-10-15T13:18:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I know I'm a couple days late, but I've been so busy with school (midterms) and all that crazy stuff... Life just gets insane between school and work and all that FUN stuff that there are times I just sit back and go "oh my goodness!!!"
I'm thinking of just taking an evening to myself to just bake or something... but who has time?
I seriously had to pencil my family gatherings this past weekend into my schedule. PENCIL because I didn't know if I would be able to make it to them... that's scary, my life has never been like that... I ALWAYS have time for family... not anymore... and that's such a sad thing. Anyway, seeing as how this is my Thanksgiving post, I thought I'd jot down some of the things I'm thankful for....
Canada, I couldn't imagine growing up in any other country
My mom, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her I love her SO much
My friends, you know who you are, and even the new friends I swore I would never make in University, but oh well, you know what happens when you say "never"... lol ;)
My family, as crazy as you all are, I think I fit in quite nicely...
The University of Manitoba, as much grief as you cause in my life, I am grateful for the opportunity to further my knowledge
Superstore, I love my job!! lol

That's pretty much it... I love you all, and I miss you all!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

a winnipeggers victory...

2008-07-08T15:13:00.002-05:00

hey all!!
well I'm now MOSTLY moved in and unpacked.. and TRYING to adjust to city life... it's weird, after living in a small town for almost my whole life how things seem so close now.... I mean I have an Applebees and a McDonalds both at the end of my street...
well, I titled this one a victory... so I will share that story with you now...

after my engagement broke off I was left with the ring... I didn't want to keep it, because it represented something that no longer was... so I brought it into the city and put it in a jewellers case for them to sell for me (I didn't want to look at it or deal with it...)
just this past week I was thinking that i should go get it and try to sell it on ebay.. cuz they were suppose to call me when it sold... but they hadn't yet... :(
so after a FABULOUS lunch with Mira, I drove over to the jewellers, and when I handed her the redemption slip for my ring, she got some papers from her desk and then said that she'd been trying to phone me... MY RING SOLD LAST WEEK!!!!

I was so thrilled!!!! and I still am...
I really didn't want to have that ring back in my possession... and now it's gone... FOREVER!!!
:D

moving away...

2008-06-27T00:06:00.002-05:00

Well friends, family,
this sad day has arrived... my mom and I are moving to Winnipeg....
my feelings are very mixed about all of this...
I'm happy because this is an amazing opportunity, I can bus to work, school, friends... everything is right there at my convenience...
BUT...
I've lived here in Niverville for the past 18 years... I grew up here, my friends are (mostly) all here.. my church is here...
I know I'm going to miss walking down the street and know everyone... or go to the post office and be able to talk about events in my life because they know me... or get a job without an interview, but based solely on the fact that they've known me for forever... or go into the credit union and they remember my account number more often than I do... and the fact that if I EVER go to Chicken Chef, before I'm even seated, there's a glass of water with a straw sitting at my table waiting for me...
I love my friends... I love being able to bump into them anywhere and everywhere and just hang out...
I love my church... and the ONE good thing is that we are going to try to keep coming out to church each week (as long as my work schedule allows)...
I will do my best to keep blogging to keep you in the loop!

love you all!
xoxo

I know Who holds tomorrow...

2008-05-15T18:31:00.002-05:00

this song has really encouraged me in this last little while, I hope (and pray) that it encourages you too...

I don't know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter,
Every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don't know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood.

The BIG cake...

2008-05-02T08:22:00.006-05:00

These are the pics that I promised of the 9x13 that I did for my last cake...

(I used a cartoon picture of Mumble, from Happy Feet..)

I used a "star" shaped tip, so everything you see here took me about 1.5 hours... and my wrist was VERY sore... lol. But I think it was worth it... I brought the cake to youth with me, and the kids ate it VERY fast... :D

yeah, yeah...

2008-04-18T12:05:00.004-05:00

Ok, so I know I titled my last post as a "writer's return" and I truly intended to start blogging more regularly after that.... but then, life got busy...

busy with what??? you may ask... well...

the BLOG KILLER... FACEBOOK...

Don't get me wrong, Facebook (or Facegame, as my pastor calls it) is a great way to keep in touch with family and friends alike.... but it's too quick, too easy...

I can update my status in seconds, and then, all my friends know right away...

and... if you're like me, on your "home" page you have the link to your friends' updates open all the time, so you know the second one of your friends updates their status...

and again, not that this is bad...

But with that going on, I never have the time I need to post a blog...

I need time to sign in, then come up with a quarky little title for my post,

load the pictures, and place them exactly as I want them...

It's a lot of work...

But once again I appologize...

and now I will formally fill you in on where and what I've been up to...

1) As most of you who live in this small town know, the closure of the business that my mom works at is a hard hit for both the pork industry and our town... but God works wonders and she has a new job (which she starts this Wednesday). But... the job is in Winnipeg... so we're in process to look for an apartment in the south end of the city... We're officially going "apartment hunting" tomorrow...

2) I have OFFICIALLY been accepted to the University of Manitoba this fall to continue my education as a Nurse.... I'm so excited!!!

3) I've been taking a CAKE DECORATING class!!! and it's OODLES AND OODLES of fun...

I have to appologize for not taking pics of my first cake, but I have pics from this last cake (I'll do one more this Sunday and then I will post those pics later...)

Here's the cake...

This first picture is the top view... I did a star tip all the way along the top boarder, and then a variety of flowers on the top...

This next picture is from the top/side view... Tracey gave me some candy gems to glam up my cake....

Side view...

The two flowers near the top are suppose to be chrysanthemums... and the closer to the bottom is suppose to be a rose... (my first attempts...)

These are the different flowers I did to decorate... just something fun... I've really enjoyed being in this class... it's been a tonne of fun...

So yeah... basically that's what I've been up to.... I'll take more pics at my next, and final, class and show you all my skills...

Have a great day!!! Enjoy the sunshine!!!

The Writer's Return

2007-09-29T22:31:00.000-05:00

First of all I would like to appologize to those people who frequent my blog, and I have been lacking in posts... I'm sorry, I have not forgotten about you...
I could write on here all the things that I have been busy with, but there's really no good excuse for my absence...
Since my last post I quit my job at Snacks/Peppies... the 3 schedule thing was NOT working for me... it was so hard just to have a day to myself where I wasn't working at all, to just stay home in my pajamas and watch Seinfeld reruns and eat cereal... LOL
(That's really what I do when there's nothing to do... LOL)
What else is new? hmmm...
Well I work full time at the grocery store... and I really enjoy it... I have certain responsibilities that are purely mine, I order certain things for the shelves, I organize/return magazines for display. Those are the SPECIFIC jobs that are mine, but there's always other things to do... We're busy girls...
And then what else?
I am involved in our local drama club, and right now we are working on a couple shorter acts for a comedy piece we're doing for an "invitation only" event being held for some monumental volunteers in our community... the practices have been a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to our performance on the 20th...
Other than that... there's really nothing...
Although I am REALLY looking forward to going out to Regina in November... I can't wait to see my "sister" and her husband... I don't get to see them often, so I am REALLY looking forward to being able to see them for a weekend...
So yeah, now I think you're all caught up on my life...
I hope to post some more deeper thoughts in the near future, so stay tuned... LOL

God bless!

Deep thoughts and summer nights

2007-07-03T15:22:00.000-05:00

Well, seeing as I have been absent from the blogging world for almost 2 months and I fear that all my readers have deserted reading my blog anymore...
But I have some updates...
I got a second job... so I work at Snack's/Peppie's and BIGWAY!!!
I got hired 2 weeks ago and that story alone is a pure miracle.... no interview, just hired and then given hours... and man, do I LOVE my job there... I mean, it's no career, but it's definately something I will enjoy doing during my evenings and such.
also,
I am taking some time away from school, I need to save up some more tuition and really decide if this is the right schooling/career path for me...
It's some major decisions and planning, and TIGHT budgeting... something I struggle with...

So yeah, that is the update...
I'm sure I'll be back with some more exciting news as the summer progresses, but for now,
Ciao!

4 things I like about me...

2007-05-07T13:43:00.000-05:00

Ok, so this time I wasn't tagged, but I was bored... so here goes... (thanks Erin ;)

Four jobs I've had
1. Service Station Attendant
2. Pizza Artist
3. Church Secretary
4. Short-Order Cook
Four movies I can watch over and over
1. Steel Magnolias
2. Beaches
3. Star Trek (the good ones, with Cpt. Kirk)
4. How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days
Four places I have lived
1. Beausejour
2. Townhouse in Winnipeg
3. Du-plex in Smalltown
4. Apartment in Smalltown
Four television shows I love to watch
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Close to Home
3. Law & Order SVU
4. CSI (only the original)
Four places I have been on vacation
1. Alberta
2. Israel
3. Kansas City
4. Minneappolis, MN
Four of my favorite dishes
1. Lasagne
2. Chicken (ANYTHING)
3. Thai
4. I love trying new foods... so whatever
Four websites I visit daily
1. myspace/blogs
2. my email (I have like 4 email addys... don't ask...)
3. Winnipeg Weather
4. GOOGLE (where would I be without Google??)
Four places I would rather be right now
1. Israel
2. Regina
3. A beach somewhere warm
4. In a happier season in my life....
Four bloggers I am tagging
1. Beth
2. Mel
3. Sue
4. Quincy

Enjoy!!

Sweet Home Manitoba

2007-04-30T10:08:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'm back...
after a long drive, on a little bit of sleep... I arrived home 45 mins before my work shift started, talk about cutting a close one, eh?
On my long drive home, I listened to a LOT of music... and seeing as how I've posted almost ONLY music lyrics on here... I thought I'd stay true to form...
This song, I had heard it before... but I felt that God really sent it just for me...
It's You Are Loved (Don't Give Up), by Josh Groban...
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I...I will lift it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you
Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you

Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I will be there to find you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you
Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you

Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved
You are loved
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
Don't give up
Every one needs to be heard
You are loved

Wow, eh? As I listened to that song, driving down the TransCanada Highway, all I could think about is that God loves me... I AM LOVED. And so are you!!

just so you know...

2007-04-26T17:40:00.000-05:00

I'm in Regina... safe and sound... with SUE!!!!

I have some pictures from the drive.... and I'm sure I'll post them all when I get home (Sunday)
But for now I will leave you in suspense....

Just so you know...
I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE!!!!

Take care y'all and I'll talk to you again soon...

Banana for Jesus.... Part 2

2007-04-16T23:17:00.000-05:00

OK, well, I'm sure some of you are going to be reading this post and be like... "is that really a picture of a banana??" YES it is... and there is a REALLY good reason why it is included in this blog...

This past spring (May 2006) I went through a really horrible break up, my fiance of 6 months dumped me 5 months before our wedding date. So I was really torn up and upset. So I finished my school term and left to work at a Christian Family camp for the summer.

While I was at the camp, I was surrounded by awesome teaching, new and old friends, and TONNES AND TONNES OF PRAYER! I couldn't have asked for a better place to be to receive healing for my heart, and soul.

Anyway, the banana... how does this enter into this all...

Well, one morning during staff meeting, one of the ladies that was working there suggested that instead of having a formal staff meeting, we should just soak in the presence of God. I had done this previous times in my life, so I laid back in the couch I was sitting on and just opened up my heart to the Lord, and of course, I started to cry....

and cry,

then I stopped crying and He showed me a picture of a banana... and I thought to myself, "why is God showing me a banana?? It must not be God...." so I started to think to myself why I was thinking so intently on a banana... I wasn't hungry, I wasn't smelling bananas, I couldn't figure out why I was seeing this clear picture of banana...

So I prayed, and I asked God that if He was giving me this picture that He would clarify it to me.

and I waited

and waited

NOTHING

just nothing

I could feel God was in the room, but with this whole banana thing, NOTHING

so the staff meeting ended and I went to my kitchen and started baking... forgetting about the banana picture.

THE NEXT DAY...

again in staff meeting, we were having a time of prayer, and again, I started thinking about this banana...

so again, I asked God to clarify it for me.

and as I sat there waiting for an explanation, the picture changed, the banana was starting to be peeled...

So I said, " ok God, I'm thinking this whole banana thing is from You... so can You please explain it further..."

Then He said to my heart "You are the banana.... but the hard, bitter peel, that is NOT a part of you, I want to remove all the bitterness and hurt and hard shell from you, I want to reveal the sweet fruit that is inside of you."

I started laughing - out loud...

so, I'm a banana for Jesus...

I wouldn't want to be any other fruit for anybody else...

TONIGHT

I was driving home from the city with some friends, and I saw a Telus billboard, it said "Feel Like the Top Banana" haha

How perfect...

not only am I a banana, but I am the TOP banana... that's how JESUS sees ME!!

Be blessed.

sleepless nights and song titles

2007-04-05T07:34:00.000-05:00

Last night, I couldn't sleep...
So I did what I normally do when I can't sleep...
I lay there, tossing and turning, and then eventually I pray and grab my MP3 player...
Well last night, the song that came on my MP3 player was not one that I was very familiar with, I knew the title, I knew the artist... but beyond that, I hadn't really listened to the song... The song was by Superchick and is called "Beauty from Pain"...
I liked the title so much when I first heard it, that I retitled my blog to use it instead...
But as I lay there in my bed, and listened, really listened to the words, I realized that this song is my story... Not everyday, but some days... it's getting better, so it's not every day... but last night was one of those "some days"...
Anyway, I don't know what you're going through right now.... but I thought I'd put the words up here, so you can read them... God bless!

"Beauty From Pain"
by Superchick

the lights go out all around me
one last candle to keep out the night
and then the darkness surrounds me
i know i'm alive but i feel like i've died
and all that's left is to accept that it's over
my dreams ran like sand through the fists that i made
i try to keep warm but i just grow colder
i feel like i'm slipping away

after all this has passed, i still will remain
after i've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain
though it won't be today,
someday i'll hope again
and there'll be beauty from pain
YOU will bring beauty from my pain

my whole world is the pain inside me
the best i can do is just get through the day
when life before is only a memory
i'll wonder why GOD lets me walk through this place
and though i can't understand why this happened
i know that i will when i look back someday
and see how YOU've brought beauty from ashes
and made me as gold purified through these flames

after all this has passed, i still will remain
after i've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain
though it won't be today,
someday i'll hope again
and there'll be beauty from pain
YOU will bring beauty from my pain

here i am, at the end of me
tryin to hold to what i can't see
i forgot how to hope
this night's been so long
i cling to YOUR promise
there will be a dawn

after all this has passed, i still will remain
after i've cried my last, there'll be beauty from pain
though it won't be today,
someday i'll hope again
and there'll be beauty from pain
YOU will bring beauty from my pain

yeah... here's one for you...

2007-04-02T19:20:00.000-05:00

Well, I got tagged!! My friend, Erin, tagged me with this Meme that she had done...
Looks like this could get interesting...

I'm eating a leftover hamburger (w/ mayo, on wheat bread) and sautéd zucchini as I type this. What did YOU eat last? Well, my mom isn't feeling too well, so I was on my own for dinner. I made egg rolls. They were yummy...

I am totally head-over-heels for a very tall man named James, who has a very sexy new haircut (picked out by me, of course! lol) What about YOUR love life? Anyone special? Love life?? haha, not yet... LOL.. well, er, maybe... but there may be a prospect or two... LOL... I'll just keep it to myself for now.

I live in a little house, with lots of trees, on a dead-end street. What is it like where you live? I live on the second floor in an apartment with my mom, there are evergreens out front, and a credit union parking lot in the back. It's a quiet street... but good.

I love my hair, and my cute wittle nose. What are YOUR favourite features about yourself? I like my hair (most days) and I like my smile... I have a square smile... I like that... lol. I love my laugh too... and I love TO laugh...

Today, I pondered about the need for mentoring in young women's lives. What deep thoughts have YOU been pondering upon? Hmmm, that's an interesting question... Lately I've been pondering the thoughts of love in life. If I will fall in love, if I WANT to fall in love, etc, etc, etc...

I love cheese (cubed colby & monterey jack) and green growing things! List 2 random things you love about life. 2 random things... hmm, let's see... I LOVE sunrises and sunsets... they are true demonstrations of God's power and love, secondly: I love sitting on the dock at the lake and just listening to the waves...

I found CAC (Create a Connection) through Melba, who I found through A Mindful Life, which I stumbled on by doing a random search for Buddhist blogs, for no apparent reason! How did YOU find out about CAC? Don't have a clue what Create a Connection is.

I absolutely *heart* thunderstorms! What do YOU love most about spring? Spring? Is there actually something to love about spring?? To me, spring is the torture that teases us about summer... I'd rather just have summer all year long... but that's just me...

ok... so... Mel, Steph, Ruth, and anyone else who reads this, consider yourself TAGGED! so go ahead... answer the questions... LOL

speechless

2007-04-02T16:48:00.000-05:00

That's right...
it has finally come to this...
I have NOTHING to blog about... LOL

So yeah... I'm just sitting here, thinking about my life...
How monotonous and routine it is...

So yeah...
( I think I say that too much) lol
does anyone have anything to ask?
or tag me?? I'll answer a survey...

Whatever.
I just hope you are all doing well.

God bless!

new job...

2007-03-03T18:34:00.000-06:00

Well... it's HAPPENED... I am no longer a part-time student looking for a job....
I am a part-time student WITH a job...
That's right...
re-read that sentence if you have to... but Kate is NO LONGER unemployed!!
I am the newest member of the Niverville Co-op (aka Country Snacks) team!
I've only worked one day... but I learned SO MUCH!!

So, if you're in the area and need your gas tank filled up...
come see me...
I don't jump to the pump, but I sure do a good job... LOL

Just wanted to share my joy with you all!!

Hope you're staying dry and warm...
HAPPY SPRING!

wanna know more?

2007-02-12T11:20:00.000-06:00

I really don't know what to post... so here's a crazy idea....
comment on here a question of something you want to know about me...
then the next time I post, I'll answer all your crazy questions... ok?

great...

Captivating?? Yes I am!!

2007-01-25T09:28:00.000-06:00

In my Christmas post, I mentioned how I got the book "Captivating" for Christmas from my prayer sister... Well, I've finished it!
I would like to encourage all my friends, but mostly my female friends that if you have NOT read this book, READ IT! It is so amazing!
As I was reading it, God was totally encouraging me on my road of healing, it was so awesome. While I was reading it, God was showing my phrases that I needed to write out and read to myself over and over again.
So I sat there reading, and writing... it was so good.
The passages that affected the most I've included here...

To live as an authentic, ransomed, and redeemed woman means to be real and present in this moment. If we continue to hide, much will be lost. We cannot have intimacy with God or anyone else if we stay hidden and offer only who we think we ought to be or what we believe is wanted. We cannont play the 'ezer' [helpmate] role we were meant to play if we remain bound by shame and fear, presenting only to the world the face we have learned is safe. You have only one life to live. It would be best to live your own.

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wronged and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it careful round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable... The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers... of love is Hell." (C.S. Lewis "The Four Loves"

This last one was written from the author to all women, after I read it, God showed me that I need to write it out to me. So as I copied it out of the book, I changed all the "you"s to "I"s.

I am a woman. An image bearer of God. The Crown of Creation.I was chosen before time and space and I am wholly and deeply loved. I am sought after, pursued, romanced, the passionate desire of my Fiance, Jesus. I am dangerous in my beauty and my life-giving power.
And I am needed
As a woman who has been ransomed and redeemed, I can be strong and tender. I speak to the world of God's mercy, mystery, beauty, and His desire for intimate relationship. I am inviting; I can risk being vulnerable, offering the weight of my life as well as my need for more because I am safe in God's love. I labor with God to bring forth life - in creativity, in work, in others. My aching, awakened heart leads me to the feet of Jesus, where I wait on Him and wait for Him. The eyes of His heart are ever upon me. The King is captivated by MY beauty.
I am needed. I am needed to awaken to God more fully and to awaken to the desires of teh heart that He placed within me so that I will come alive to Him and to the role that is mine to play. Perhaps I am meant to be a concert musician or a teacher. Perhaps I am meant to be a neurologist or a horse trainer. Perhaps I am to be an activist for ecology, or the poor, or the aged, or the ill. I am certainly called to be a woman, wherever else He leads me.
And that is crucial, dear heart. Whatever my particular calling, I am meant to grace the world with my dance, to follow the lead of Jesus wherever He leads me. He will lead me first into Himself, and then, with Him, He will lead me into the world that He loves and needs me to love.
It is by Invitation.

(all these quotes can be found in the book "Captivating" by John and Staci Eldridge.)
PLEASE BUY THE BOOK, or if you don't buy it... BORROW it from someone...
(the reason why I say buy it is because EVERYONE should own it, and for those that own it, they usually don't want to loan it out :D)

Anyway. Women, be encouraged. God loves you.
and I do too!

Every good and perfect gift...

2007-01-18T20:52:00.000-06:00

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED!!!

Ever since my 16th birthday (or before) I've wanted my own car.
A space that was just my own, that I could keep as messy or as clean as I wanted.
Just mine... and no one elses...
and... God has heard my prayers... not only HEARD them... ANSWERED them..
I am now the proud owner of a 1993 Pontiac Sunbird!!!
It's so pretty... bright blue!
Yeah, it's a little rusty, but whatever... the things 14 years old!!
But she runs like the wind, and I love her!
I will post a picture soon...

but for now I leave it to your imagination!

January Birthdays

2007-01-15T10:46:00.000-06:00

The above pictures are my 21st birthday cake. It was a Blueberry Trifle Cake... mmmm

P.J. just turned 24 yesterday... this is his Oreo-Mint-Chocolate-Chip-Ice-Cream Birthday cake... He really enjoyed it... the rest of us? well, HE enjoyed it!

smoke signals

2007-01-06T16:18:00.000-06:00

this morning I was rudely awoken to the sound of my smoke alarm... first thing I did was look at the time.... 6:55 a.m. I'd only been in bed for about 4 hours... I took a deep breath and smelled something smokey....
"oh no! my house is on fire!!!"
I jump out of bed and almost collide with my mom as she heads down the hall to the smoke alarm (it's right outside both our bedrooms) she started fanning the alarm and I started walking around: touching things to see if they were hot... smelling for smoke...
there was no smoke in our apartment... but I went to the open window (our apartment gets REALLY warm, so we leave a window open almost 24/7) I smelled outside and nothing was smokey there... so I went to our door... first I touched it (like I was always taught) then I looked out the peephole... nothing... just calm apartment hallway...
so I then repeated what I had just done with our storage room door... again nothing...
I was pacing around our apartment... and as I got closer to the bedrooms I could smell more smoke... my mom was in her room and she pulled her bed away from the wall to find out that...

somehow in the middle of the night, her baseboard heater turned itself on!
so then we ran around touching all the heaters...
we then discovered that the heater in the dining room had turned itself on too!
so we called our landlord to tell him... and he told us to flip the breakers... so we did, and they started to cool down....
what our landlord figured is that our heaters must have gotten so cold that they had to turn themselves on. So now we flipped the breakers to prevent anything from going wrong again.

My mom and I had NEVER turned the heat on in our apartment... cuz it's usually quite warm... so we didn't know there was a problem until they turned themselves on this morning...

It's funny how so often in my own life I do things (sin) and I don't properly deal with it... and for a while... life is great... peachy keen... then all-of-a-sudden this sin rises up and bites me in the butt... it tries to burn my "house" down... it tries to destroy me.

If my mom and I had been awake when this happened... we probably would've smelled it right away and then dealt with it... so the smoke alarm wouldn't have started screaming at us.
But we weren't awake... we were both fast asleep...
(I just remembered a few months back, they came to test our smoke alarm, until then, there was a DEAD battery in it... PTL they checked....)

In our spiritual lives, how often do we "fall asleep"? we forget to do our devotions, or we tune God out to do our own thing...
How many times do we allow ourselves to sin before eventually we realize what we're really doing... we pressing our beds up against our hot heaters and falling asleep!

Don't wait until tomorrow, if there's sin in your heart, deal with it now.... you never know if that alarm is going to sound in the middle of the night... and your batteries are dead...

Remember: the devil comes as a theif in the middle of the night to steal, kill and destroy
But Jesus came so that we can have life!

Christmas and New Year's Update

2007-01-02T22:44:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
I realize that I've been away for a while... so here I am to update you!
Christmas was great... lots of family time...
I left on the 27th for Kansas City. I attended the 'onething' conference, it was SO awesome!
I got back yesterday (on my birthday: 21!!)
Today my mom and I went shopping and I got a new cell phone for my b-day!!

I start school tomorrow... please pray...

I'm really tired right now so I'm writing this for now, but I'll probably come back on Thursday and add to it...

God bless

Obsession... shrug

2006-12-19T13:41:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was running errands in the city... and then I realized where I was.... on Regent... what else is close to this area of the city???

STARBUCKS!!

What is with me and this compulsion to buy expensive coffee? Do I enjoy it? Of course, but do I really NEED to spend over $5.00 on ONE cup of coffee??

Does anyone else out there share this same compulsion?? Or am I all alone?

*just to note, my favourite coffee of the season is the Gingerbread Latte... what's yours?? :D

"Captivating" Christmas Celebrations...

2006-12-07T23:02:00.000-06:00

WOW! is really all I can say... God is SO AMAZING!!!

ok, so, you're probably wondering why yesterday I posted how I have very little to say and now today I am so excited.... well I'll explain...

Last night was the Ladies Fellowsip Christmas Party at church. This is a time of fellowship, carolling, eating and just having a wonderful time with the women in our church. We also pick "Prayer Sisters". When you fill out the little form to get a prayer Sister, you have the option to have a secret prayer sister or a known prayer sister.... last year I had a secret Sister. And yesterday I met her face to face (for the first time) in the food line, a little while before the gift exchange when she would then know that I was her prayer sister. When they handed out the gifts, I saw them put the gift that I brought in front of her, and shortly after one of the ladies helping pass out the gifts handed me mine. I quickly opened the card on the outside of the bag to find out my Sister's identity... but all that was written was my name... so I looked inside and found another card, as I scanned over it, I saw the name written on the bottom....

It was the same person that I had be praying for this last year... we had had each others names!!
I let out a heartfelt laugh and then (kinda) yelled "Oh my gosh... we had each other!!!"
Then I opened the present to reveal a book that she had purchased for me. It's called "Captivating".

Now... there's a really interesting story behind this book... this past summer when I was working at camp - because of my broken engagement and all that happened following that... I met a wonderful woman of God at Youth Camp named Sue... She was the wife of our guest speaker... but I truly believe that she was a guest speaker as well for the impact she had on my life.
If Sue and I had not kept in touch at all after camp, all I would be able to tell you about her was that she was truly a God-sent angel. She was so awesome and wonderful... not WAS..... IS!
Through the course of stuff that both her and I went through at camp that week, God brought us so close. On one of the nights, God had told her that she needs to share some stuff with the kids and be open and honest. When she was sharing, God was bringing things to my memory that I either needed to repent of, or forgive others for what they had done to me.
After she shared she said that we were going to have a time of prayer for those who wanted. As soon as she sat down, I leaned over and asked her if we could talk... we went outside.... and that was the most incredible night in my life! We talked, prayed, laughed, cried... and it was so nice to share things in my life knowing that she loves me and God loves me and that I'm forgiven and that God gives me the strength to forgive those people in my life that need forgivness.
After we talked (and killed the spider... LOL - long story...) she gave me a list of books that I should read to continue to allow God to help me overcome and heal from the events of the last year...
The first book she wrote was "Captivating"...

So now... jumping ahead to last night... as soon as I opened the book and saw the title, Sue's face immediately jumped into my head... When I arrived home, I emailed her this whole story... only to find out this morning that she had called me last night and left a message on my machine and I missed her... and I totally forgot to check my messages last night...

I find it so amazing how God can be working here in my life, and then put it on Sue's heart (she lives pretty far away from me) that she needs to call me...

Isn't God so AMAZING! He knows what we need even before we even know what we need... that's pretty awesome... Praise God!!!

Thursday's Thoughts

2006-12-07T15:29:00.000-06:00

Well, as you can tell it's been quite a while since I last blogged. Not a lot of stuff has happened in my life that requires blogging... Sorry to disappoint any frequent visitors to my blog... LOL

Although there have been some interesting developments in my life as of late, I will just share one of these said developments... I've been looking around for awesome organizations to work with/for after I graduate from college... and I've found a couple. My two main options are Doctors Without Borders and YWAM both of these are AWESOME organizations to be involved with... so as I continue with my education, I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I decide (and God leads) where I should go afterwards.

Stupendous Skating Situations...

2006-11-22T22:57:00.000-06:00

Well, due to my wonderful Mother buying my an early Christmas present... I am now the proud owner of these pretty skates!!
Since I acquired them on Saturday... and am unable to actually skate... I need to learn, so what is a girl to do?
Well, THIS girl talked to her friends and a few of them graciously offered to teach her. So today during public skating today, Kyla took me skating... and (according to her) I didn't do too badly...
Yes, I did hang onto the boards, but I did NOT FALL AT ALL!!

So hopefully by the time we have our church Christmas party (in less than 2 weeks) I should be a pretty good skater... (by the grace of God)

I've included 2 pictures of my pretty skates, there will be more to come of me in them... but for now this is what I have...

God bless and goodnight!

Sweet and Scrumptious Saturday

2006-11-18T11:25:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm off to an exciting Grey Cup party tomorrow... thanks to my College and Career group at church...

"What am I to bring to a football game party?" you may ask...
Well, I am making...

Chocolate Toffee Trifle

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups milk
6 Crispy Crunch bars, frozen wrapped
2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

Bake the cake in a 13 by 9-inch baking pan according to the package's directions. Pour pudding into a bowl and mix according to directions. Leave bars in wrappers and pound with a hammer to crush.

In a very large pretty Trifle dish or glass bowl, layer in this order:
1/2 the cake cubes
1/2 the pudding
1/2 the whipped cream
1/2 the C.C. bars

Repeat layers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

I am currently making this recipe as I type this, so I will post a picture as soon as it's all assembled...

God bless and enjoy!

Sunny Sunday of a Wacky Weekend

2006-11-13T14:36:00.000-06:00

Yes.. I do realize that it is already Monday... but I wanted to use this title...

This weekend was fun... I spent almost the ENTIRE weekend with Lauren... having tonnes of fun and making even more memories!!

But Sunday... that was an UNBELIEVEABLY amazing day...
It started with Lauren coming to church with me, followed by an awesome sermon.
Then around 3:00 I headed to my Grandma's house, my dad was there and we ate supper and then played MANY rounds of UNO... it was a great time.
I was really nervous about seeing my dad and grandma, but the whole way there (it was in Stony Mountain) I was just praying that it would be a good time and that God's hand of wisdom and guidance would be present in our conversation...
It was so awesome... then PJ and Stacy arrived a little later and we continued to play UNO among stories and jokes and much laughter... it was quite an enjoyable evening!
I left my Grandmother's around midnight and got home shortly before 1:00...
When I got home, there was a phone message from a dear friend of mine... We hadn't talked (phone or in person) since August... I miss her so much, but it was so good to talk on the phone with her for almost an hour and just share our hearts with each other. God has such an awesome plan and calling on her life, and I'm so glad to be one of her friends so that I can share in the enjoyment of the journey with her!!

Anyway... it was really good... and I'm still trying to recooperate on all the sleep that I lost this weekend... many late nights, and not much sleeping in...

God bless you all, I hope you all had a great weekend as well!

Xoxo

wonderfly wordy wednesday!

2006-11-08T15:19:00.000-06:00

well, i went out last night with a really good friend of mine...
*WINK*
but anyway... in the midst of conversation i said a word that sounded
great in conversation that isn't really (technically) a word.
Ok, so here's the word...

AWKWARDFY

meaning - to make more awkward...

does that make sense??

would you ever use this word in conversation??
let me know!

totally tuesday (thoughts from a scatterbrain)

2006-11-07T09:14:00.000-06:00

Do you ever think where you would be if you would have made different choices in life, or if other people's decisions would not have affected you?
I do... quite often, not that I like to dwell on things that are not real, or that are untrue. But sometimes I get so wrapped up in others' decisions that I almost let my own life pass me by!

I am sick of living a life that I am not living!

As some of you may know, and others not, I am a journaler... not journalist.
I write in my journal usually once a day, sometimes more.
If it wasn't for these small books of memories, I think I would have completely transferred over into a reality world, separate from my own...

So, last night as I sat journaling, I flipped back in my journal and read some of my entries as an anticipating bride, longing for my wedding day... then I looked at the page I was writing on, a single girl, unmarried....

The hurts in our lives cut so deep sometimes they seem impossible to forget and move past. Especially when we are constantly faced with our feelings and emotions...

**there is a positive note to all my rambling, just let me get there**

I finished talking about my day, and things that are happening in my life right now, then I heard God's voice, and I flipped to the back of my journal and started writing:

I am a child of God! Perfect in HIS sight and capable of all things through HIS Son! In HIM I find my strength and my identity! With HIS perfect love I have no fear, and HIS grace is enough for me! HIS mercies are new every morning!

How profound... these things that I've heard all my life, becoming truth in my heart and mind!

I pray that these words of truth would be imbeded in all of your hearts and minds as well, and that you would remember that you are a child of the KING! and HE loves you so much! (and so do I) :D

thinking thursday

2006-11-02T09:30:00.000-06:00

well, seeing as how that all I've posted so far are some awesome recipes... I thought it was time that my blog and i shared a heart-to-heart...
i know that a number of you have been praying for me through this past spring and summer, and i really think that i am doing better... sometimes other times, i feel like i'm still in the midst of the emotions and hurt and pain... and then i just cry...
the biggest factor in healing is my Saviour... without him, i know i wouldn't have made it this far... HE's so AMAZING!!
i know as my family and friends that you all care about me, and don't get me wrong, i appreciate it SO much... but if you guys care so much... how much MORE does HE care? i mean think about it, HE makes sure the sparrows have enough to eat all through our manitoba winters... if HE can care about a bird... how much more does HE care for me... one HE made in HIS image...
Sometimes it's so hard for me to grasp this foreign concept that i'm made in HIS image... because for so long i pictured GOD as a taskmaster... waiting for me to screw up so HE could hit me with a lightning bolt... but... as i've been learning through my late teens, and now into adulthood... HE actually CARES!!
one testiment to this caring is this summer... i was staying up in the girls dorm, by myself (until you came Beth... and i loved having you there) being by myself often did not provide the escape from my emotions and hurts... so i cried myself to sleep most nights... but this one night as i was laying in my bed, crying, GOD spoke to me and said, "why don't you ask ME to comfort and hold you?"
i continued to lay there and cry... eventually i whispered my prayer, "Father, please hold me"
as i continued to cry i actually felt arms around me. i felt like HE had scooped me up like you would hold a baby to soothe them when they cry... that's how HE held me, and rocked me until i fell asleep...
GOD is so awesome... i love HIM so very much!

GOD bless each one of you! be encouraged... HE cares for you!!
Psalms 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7 are God's written testiment to this!

love ya

MMMM Monday....

2006-10-30T17:57:00.000-06:00

Sweet 'N' Sour Spare Ribs

4 lbs ribs or stewing beef
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup vinegar
2/3 cup cold water
1 Tbsp soya sauce
1 cube beef boullion (or 1 tsp.)
1/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup pineapple bits

boil ribs and salt for 30 minutes, until tender. Drain and blot with paper towel.

combine brown sugar and cornstarch, add vinegar, cold water and soya sauce. Allow it to heat throughout.

dissolve boullion cube in boiling water. add onion, sugar, and pineapple juice. mix well then add ribs and simmer until meat is glazed (about 15 mins), stirring. serve over boiled rice.

this is one of our favourite family recipes... but we do like it more saucy than the recipe says... I usually 4x the sauce recipe so that there's always extra sauce for the rice.

(I will be posting a picture soon... it just won't load right now!)

Munching Monday

2006-10-23T22:40:00.000-05:00

aka - Meal of the week

Potato and Cheese Soup

brown in large pan:
1/2 pound bacon (chopped small)
1 onion (diced)
1 clove garlic (optional)

Keep temperature on medium and really allow for browning.

Mix in bowl:
6 cups mashed potatoes (leftovers work great)
1 cup milk
1 cup water

Once bacon and onions are well cooked, add potato mixture and stir well while heating.
Add:
2 tsp parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup peas (or corn or carrots)

Once soup has simmered, keep on low temperature until serving, just before serving mix in 2 cups shredded cheese (mozza or cheddar)

This is a really easy recipe... let me know if you make it... I want to know if you do!!
God bless.

This is the beginning

2006-10-19T23:46:00.000-05:00

Well, this is me... here on my new blog...
I know that I do already have a myspace... but I just use that for networking... this is a place where I can share my thoughts, prayers and dreams in a safe environment...

So, right now I am too tired to post anything of great or grand importance to my life... but...

I'm getting my wisdom teeth out... EEK!!
LOL
should be a good time, I'll keep you posted on the consult and the whole proceedure...

God bless