He is the season....

I don't know about you but I am so excited for Christmas - it is totally my favorite time of year for so many reasons. The past few mornings right when the alarm clock goes off I roll over and say to my husband "Only __ sleeps left till Christmas" And he just smiles (he doesn't get as excited as I do) I have been thinking this year a lot about the holidays and how they affect me and the way the world views them (the holidays). I love the holidays for the obvious reasons like the time spent with family, all the good Christmas goodies and food, I love receiving gifts and trying to guess what people bought me but more than that I love buying and giving gifts. For myself I give myself a budget of how much I will spend on each person and then I try not to go over it but its so hard cause I just love buying my loved ones things to show them tangible how much I love them. I am reminded that this season is all because of Him. He is the season!! We often hear especially in Christian settings that "Jesus is the reason for the season" but the truth is Jesus is the season... for without his infant birth their would be no season. We see in his birth the greatest gift of love for He (Christ) entered our earth story so we can find ourselves in His love story. What a Christmas gift is that!

We can not ignore the fact that this Christmas their will be some celebrating maybe without a loved once present or maybe with heavy hearts due to illness or financial burdens, maybe job loose but no one this Christmas should be celebrating without Hope. My prayer this Christmas is that I find Christ in a new and real way in my own life that I don't forget the truth and grace found in His birth and what my life has because of that birth.

Yes I am exhausted - it feels like this fall and especially November and December have been busy months for me but I have joy. Yes I am excited for 2010 and yet there is that sense of mystery as to what God has in store for me in the new year. There is a peace I have that even in the busyness of this week that peace is calming. Lets remember the Season for what it is and may we in turn shine Christ's love and the hope He gives to everyone around us.

Merry Christmas to you and your families and may your holidays be ever blessed!

So tired....

I am so exhausted and its only Thursday. This week has been so busy for me and today is a super long day which will involved all day in the office and tonight dinner and a client event our firm is hosting so it will be a late night. I found these 5 "excuses" to use when you fall asleep on your desk at work and it gave me a good laugh today.

5. "They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen."
4. "This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time-management course you sent me to!"
3. Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-out. You probably got here just in time!"
2. "Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?"
1. (Raising your head slowly) "...in Jesus' name, Amen."

I think I may even use some of them!! Not really but I feel like I could use a 15 min power nap. I am definitely looking forward to Christmas even more now that life is so busy and I am hardly seeing any of my husband but alot more busyness (is that even a word) before Christmas which I guess will help it come quickly but I dont want it to come too quickly because just like that it will all be over and then I have to wait another 365 for it to come again.

On a personal note God has been teaching me some cool things in my devotions from Psalm 23. What a famous and very popular passage of scripture but oh how I have missed so much good stuff that is found in it. I love how the Lord can teach you and reteach you new things each time we allow Him to and we spend time in His word. I will blog soon I hope (if I get a spare moment) and share a bit what I have learnt 1. for my own personal record I love to look back on what I've learnt and
2. maybe someone reading this will learn something too or be blessed by something I have learnt

For you that care and have been asking my bedroom furniture arrived today for California so this weekend I will get my bedroom finally put together and our basement is being muded as we speak so hopefully the basement will be done by Christmas then I can finally post pictures of my house.

Oh and because I have forgotten I also a couple weeks ago got my first and maybe it will only be my one and only ever, blog award. Thanks Callie it made my day and I know I need to do what you said to accept the award or whatever you do in the blogging world.... its so silly that we or maybe its just me that gets excited about stuff like that. but its the little things in life we must not forget to enjoy.

Hope all my American friends have recouped from your Thanksgiving festivities and you all are having a great week.

A couple things....

I know some of you are asking for pictures of my new house - I promise to upload some once I get all my new furniture delivered so of which is coming from California so it is taking a bit longer. Let me say I am sorry I haven't been blogging we don't have the Internet at our house set up yet and I have been so swamped at work with us changing firms and everything that blogging has sadly taken the "backseat" so to say but that is not to say I haven't been reading all of yours because I do read them on my blackberry its just hard to type a post on it.

The real reason for this post is simply to say HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY AMERICAN BLOGGING FRIENDS! I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving spent with family and friends eating good food and remembering all we have to be thankful for. I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner - it really is. I have slowly unboxed my Christmas decorations and I am having fun deciding how I want to decorate my house with them. OH I am looking forward to Christmas so much this year. It is always my favorite time of year but this year I am especially looking forward to celebrating it in my own home and especially looking forward to our trip to the states shopping because I am in desperate need of new clothing (ok Im not going around naked or anything but come on girls you know how it is when you haven't bought new clothes in sooooooo long) and I am looking forward to lots of time with family eating delicious Christmas baking and especially time to rest. The past few months have been so busy for me and my husband and with him working the night shift right now it makes out time together very limited so I am looking forward to having him to myself over the holiday.

So my American friends enjoy your Thanksgiving holidays, its kinda like a preChristmas special to get you in the mood for the Christmas holidays!

Busy Busy Busy.... Novemeber Already!

Well as if the title doesn't give it away, I have been busy busy busy! I guess I should say I've been moving, moving, moving. Both at work and at home. My company (that I work for) is in the middle of changing firms and so the last 2 weeks especially has been crazy doing paper work and legal stuff and on top of that when I get home in the evenings I've been packing packing for our move this weekend into our house!! Can I say FINALLY!! We bought our house back in June and actually closed the beginning of October but due to a difficult pregnancy with the previous owners of our house they couldn't get out until this week so we graciously let them stay but I am so anxious for them to get out so I can get in - Into my first house! I'm so excited and so is my husband but I am soooo tired. I wish I could report my extreme exhaustion is because I am pregnant but yet again its not. My stress levels are so high right now, I am having crazy sleepless night and have had 2 friends announce their pregnancy as well as 2 friends deliver their babies and my heart is happy for them yet it breaks all the same. My husband and I were out doing some running around this weekend when he looked at a little santa's costume for a newborn and looked at me and said "I can't wait till we have babies of our own" and man I melted. He knows how badly I want a baby and I always knew he wanted kids but I didn't realize he thought about it as often as he does. I am so thankful that I have a great husband and that we have each other. I do not take that for granted, not one day do I, but I would love for us to share in creating a family, but all in God's time right. I was talking to a friend the other day who said "I can't wait to see what God has in store for this year". And I couldn't help but agree but in the same breath I don't want to rush this year by just to see what is in store. I want to savour each day as the gift it is. Besides its pretty exciting to finally be buying our first house and its exciting because its November now and you know what that means...I can start decorating for Christmas soon in my very own house! I am reminded yet again today "God is good all the time, All the time God is Good". You may be in a funk, you may be having the worst day ever, you may be on cloud 9 whatever your feeling today claim that promise and hold on to it!

If God is so good then why do bad things happen to good people?

An area in my life and walk with Christ that I have been struggling with is this whole area of "Bad things happening to Good people." I think growing up in a Christian family, attending christian schools and having a personal relationship with Christ I have always known that bad things happen to all of us, Christian or not, and that just because I follow and desire to be like Christ that doesn't mean my life will be easy. I think last Sept (2008) is when it really hit me that bad things really do happen to good people. When my friend's husband was killed instantly, a man that truly lived his life to glorify God and lead others to Him, a "good" person not just by my standards but by the worlds as well or in Oct of 2008 when my grandmother was taken by the evil and horrible disease of cancer. A lady who was a dedicated wife to a pastor,loving mom and grandmother a very faithful prayer warrior, a "good" person. I hear every day of little babies loosing their lives to illnesses and even in my own life there are areas where I am like why God are you allowing these bad things happen to me.

So I wanted to share a few things God has been teaching me in this whole journey to really see what my Bible and what God has to say about this question if you will.

*Remember I am no Bible scholar this is just from my heart and some of the things I've been learning*

1. Some of the harsh things we face are initiated by God who is simply enforcing justice.
2. Our choices have consequences.
3. God is not the creator of evil and suffering
3. Though suffering is not good God can and does use it to accomplish good.
4. God can use pain to draw us to Himself
5. God can use trails to sharpen the character of us
6. God disciplines His children to teach us the right path to take
7. God uses bad circumstances to bring about good ends
8. The day is coming when suffering will cease and evil will be judged
9. Any suffering we experience in this life pales in comparison with the good God has in store for us
10. We get to decide whether our pain is going to harder or soften us
11. God promises to walk with us in our pain and suffering if we only let Him.

Wow how God been streeeeetching and teaching me alot and I still have alot to learn but I hope that me sharing a bit will maybe help someone else out there who may be kinda asking God that same question. The only thing I know forsure is that my little brain will never learn and know all there is to know here on earth but oh what a happy day when I see my Creator face to face, I think then all my questions will be answered with just the look at His face.

"God is always good, always good IS God!!"

Monday already...

Well I know I said I would update daily with things Im thankful for so I think I missed three days so I have some making up to do, but in my defense not that I really need to defend myself after all it is my blog but anyways we have had a very very busy weekend filled with a wedding, birthday party and house paper signing!!

First thing today I am thankful for is Love.

I was asked to sing at my cousins wedding and I accepted the request so on Saturday I did so. It was a beautiful wedding. Weddings are so much fun. A great excuse to get dressed up, catch up with friends and family, watch two people embark on their new journey together and watch them commit themselves to each other before God. I am such a mushy person to - I just love LOVE (If that makes sense) I also received a special message from a friend late last night in which she finished by saying "I love ya " which just melted my heart. I love to be told I am loved. I think we all do. I am sad that the word "Love" gets over used all the time. It get thrown around like we love chocolate, we love our coach bag, we love Fall, ect I am just as guilty but when you truly love someone it changes you. It changes how you treat someone. Here are some pictures from our busy weekend.


Me singing at the wedding...


My super hot husband and I at the reception...


The newly married couple...



On Sunday we spent the day with my husbands family celebrating his Nana's 85th birthday. 85... I can't even imagin getting to that age but God has blessed her to live that long. It was a busy yet fun day spent with family. We ate so much delicious food and also got to go flying.



Here my brother in law and I are flying up over his house. Can I just restate someone I have said before - our God is such a creator. When your up in the sky you can see the tops of the trees and man it looks like a painted picture. It is literally breath taking. The view was so gorgeous!




I guess today I am also thankful for family, for life and for a new week. As much as I do not like Mondays it reminds me that we are beginning a new week. A new week in which God has blessed us and given us the chance to enjoy life, live for him, love others and make a difference in this world. Today is a gift, not our right! So even though it is really cold and rainy here and I wish I could have stayed in my warm bed, reading a book or drinking tea I am thankful I have today even if it is Monday!

How was your weekend? What are you thankful for today?

October 1st...things I'm thankful for

Ok so now that it is officially October 1st - which may I add where did the summer and September go??? - I will start my daily list of things I am thankful for. Now I need to make a mention here that this list is not in order of "Most thankful to least thankful" or anything they will be all randomly depending on the day and how Im feeling .... so whatever that day I feel most thankful for I will blog about - and I will try and only pick one thing... otherwise we could be here awhile.

So I encourage you to join in...we have soooo much to be thankful for really we do so what are you thankful for?

Today I am thankful for Fall - the actual season...I keep hearing people say "Fall's my favorite time of year" and I've always thought its not mine -I like the summer the hot weather and I love love Christmas time... but you know I really do love Fall to.





I today am especially thankful for the colours of Fall. Is our God not the most beautiful Creator and picks the best colour for fall. I love Fall decorating especially because of the colour palate it uses: Orange, Mustard Yellow, Green, Red, Brown, the list could keep going but such rich colours. I am sad that this year I won't really get to do much fall decorating as most of our place is all boxed up for our move this month so by the time we move and unpack I'll be getting right into Christmas mode I think but I am still enjoying reading your blogs and seeing your lovely decorating for this Fall season...

He delivers me...

Its been one of those weeks... you know what kind I'm talking about. No not the kind that are full of wonderful surprises, warm enjoyable weather, lots of good shopping deals, lots of good chats with friends and time with family.... no not that kind of week. My week has been full of feeling like Im getting sick which is not good for obvious reasons but especially as I'm to sing at my cousins wedding on Saturday, full of frustrations and things not going the way they need to or should be, feeling lonely and missing having people in my life, missing having exciting things to do, wishing my husband didn't work such long long hours and just wishing I could stay in bed and to top it off driving to church on Sunday I discovered a huge crack in my windshield... all I could do was let the tears fall and just say to Jesus "OK I've had enough!!" ... ever feel that way? I sure hope Im not the only one.... so I just sat and had a good cry and then I turned the music up and just let whatever song came on mend my soul and the words I heard did start to do the trick

"When I feel like I can't go on
You deliver me, When there's a distance
Between what I am and who I want to be
You deliver me"

Oh How I wish just like that I felt better but it was not so... and although my week still stinks I know He will deliver me from all this... I just keep reminding myself tomorrow IS another day... and because of Him I can face whatever tomorrow holds.

Tomorrow marks October 1st so I am going to try and post one thing a day I am thankful for... what are you thankful for??

Fall, Fall, Fall

I can't believe it is official Fall - although we are/where having such summer like weather up until today - now it looks and feels like fall. I haven't been blogging lately as Im going through some private stuff and its hard not to just vent on here and well I don't think that would be the best thing for right now so I've been avoiding writing here but been keeping my own personal journal offline. God is so faithful and good let me just say that upfront.

Lets see - September marked the year anniversary of Preston's death. I have mentioned it before because I met P and his beautiful wife when I was at college and although we shared some classes God has used P's death to change my life. He broke my heart for P's wife and really made me realize how short life is. The Bible says we are just a vapour and even though I have known people who have died and its sad nothing has ever "rocked" me this hard as His death did. I remember the day, the place where I was when I heard the news so vividly. The thing I love about God is He makes no mistakes, His timing, His ways are so perfect. I never knew 6 years ago when I met Tara how God would use her in my life and place her in a spot in my heart that can't be replaced. I truly love this girl and she challenges me daily to be the best wife, daughter, Christian I can be - and sometimes I dont even think she knows she does. Thats just how amazing she really is. When I say she is beautiful I dont mean just outwardly either.

October also will mark the one year death of my grandma. I still can't been a year since both these two remarkable people have been gone. I love to think of how cool it would be for the two of them to be sitting at the banquet table just getting to know each other. Oh how heaven gained to heros and as much as Preston and my Grandma are so missed here on earth I wouldn't wish them back.

As much as Im a hot weather kind of girl I enjoy the change of seasons. I have been feeling "blue" lately so last week I decided one morning to go for a drive just me and Jesus. I popped in the new Selah cd (which may I add is fantastic) and I just drove out in the country and although some trees are still green alot have started to change colour and oh how beautiful they are. I had tears in my eyes as I listened to the music and drove. Tears of joy for how faithful and good God is, how beautiful His creation is, how lucky I am to live in such a free land and yet their are people still giving their lives so that I can live freely in this land, tears of sadness for two lives lost just a year ago, tears for my dear friend who is now a widow and raising two precious boys with out a daddy, tears because lets face it sometimes us girls just need a good cry.

I love October (I know its not October yet) because of Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for so many things in my life and so many people and I find at Thanksgiving (October) it forces me to really stop and be thankful and appreciate all I do have. I wish I was better at doing that throughout the year but I am working on it. This year I am especially thankful because we will finally take ownership of our very own FIRST house and that is definitely something to be thankful for. So Im going to try really hard for the month of October to post daily something/someone Im thankful for and why.

For those of you (and you know who you are) that are praying for me... keep praying!! God listens and hears every prayer and He does answer... even if you wait 6 years to see the full blessing of why he brings someone into your life like he did for me and T, or if you have to wait a few weeks to get an answer He is faithful.

So I guess I wanna know what is your favorite thing/part of Fall?

Please pray....

*Update* after spending 2 weeks in the hospital, being isolated, 2 surgeries Ty is home with a Picc Line and taking iv antibiotics every 6 hours and that will last for 6 weeks... even though Lindsay (his mommy who is a nurse) is exhausted from the 6 hour intervals everyone is happy to be home and mending - so thanks for praying **

Our very dear friends Matt and Lindsay have twin boys who are both 2 years old now. You probably remember me posting awhile back when they came and spent the weekend with us and our trip to the zoo... well Ty (the one Im holding in this picture)








has been running a fever for a few days now and has been to the doctor countless times and they kept telling Lindsay it was just a virus ect while finally on Monday they sent him to a specialist and late last night the specialist sent him via ambulance to Toronto Sick Kids Hospital where in my opinion is the best place for any sick baby/child to be. There another specialist was waiting for them when the arrived and they have been running tons of tests on the poor little guy. It breaks my heart to see him so sick and the doctors without alot of answers ... they sent him into surgery and he has just come out but they are saying they wont have many answers till atleast tomorrow so will you please pray with me. Pray for our dear friends Matt and Lindsay as its hard to watch your little child lay so sick and not be able to help. Its especially hard for Lindsay as she is a nurse and she knows all too well what could happen to her son. My husband and I are heading down to the hospital after Im done work to be with them they have asked us to come and just keep them company so that is the lest we can do other then pray... so will you join me please pray. There is a complete and divine power in prayer I do believe that and I know that God's plan will be carried out in this. I promise to report back with what I hope will be good news but mostly I just pray that I can hold it together tonight when we go see Ty and that we can encourage Matt and Lindsay. We love you guys and are praying for you!!

Whats a song??

As I was playing my piano this morning this blog started to brew in my head so here goes.... I think everyone would agree that words are powerful therefore songs can be powerful. After all songs are words merely put to music correct? I have studied alot of music and songs over my life time, being a music student from the time for 4 years old and studying it in post secondary school will do that to you. I can sit at my piano for hours and just play and sing. I love to hear/learn new songs and I have to say there are so many great music writers out there - very God gifted and talented people and best of all they are using their talents for God. I don't know about you but there is just something about poping on a worship cd or a cd by your favorite Christian artist that does "the soul good" if you know what I mean. Often when Im sad and listen to music I feel comforted or happy, if Im feeling down listening to it can lift me up, it just brightens my day and brings me in a sweet commune with God. I truly believe God uses music to touch peoples lives and communicate with them - after all thats what most of the book of Psalms is. Growing up in a Christian family I have been blessed and fortunate enough to attend church my entire life therefore allowing me the privilege to learn many songs and watch as we enter into a new generation of worship songs. We no longer only sing hymns at church but we sing praise choruses, new worship songs that have a such power and truth to them. Do you ever find you wake up in the morning with a song already playing in your head? I get that alot and I am so glad when its Christian songs because I truly believe what we listen to effects us whether we think it does or not. I try really hard not to listen to the radio... not because Im some great saint, or because their isn't good tunes out there or because I want to cut myself off from the world but simply because I know for me what I listen to effects the way I think, effects my mood, and it effects the way in which I respond to situations. I really love the old hymns, this is not to say I dont believe music today has less truth to them or they are less "Godly" because I don't but there is just something about singing an old hymn. One of my favorite hymns is "I'd rather have Jesus". I really love the chords and notes of this song but more powerful then the music are the words and the truth they bring.

I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS

(Miller / Shea)

George Beverly Shea

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,

I'd rather be His than have riches untold;

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land,

I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand:

Chorus

Than to be the king of a vast domain

Or be held in sin's dread sway

I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,

I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,

I'd rather be true to His holy name:...

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,

He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;

He's all that my hungering spirit needs;

I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead

I don't think I need to go into detail - the words a pretty self explanatory but I love to sing this song often. I think of the words of which I am singing because often we just sing songs but we don't really think about what we are saying when we sing. I often joke with my husband ab out how awesome it would be to be rich or just to have a little bit more money - not because I think money makes you happy because I know it doesn't but just because it would be nice to be rich and be able to buy other people stuff to be able to just not ever have to worry about money (yes I know God will supply all my needs thats for another post) but if I had to pic k between riches, my house (which I can't wait to move into) material things I like ie: shoes, handbags, clothes I know I would pick Jesus hands down every time.


I know that Jesus choose me instead of worldly things , he choose to die on a cross for me instead of mans applause so why should it even be a question for what you and I would choose? Do yo u enjoy music? What are some of your favorite songs or artists?

Redeemed...

The dictionary says Redeemed means

• deliver: save from sins
• restore the honor or worth of

And I like that!! This year has been a trying one for many many reason for me personally, for my family and for some of my friends and as of late I have really been growing in my walk with God especially in this whole area of "being redeemed". I have known for a long time (growing up in a Christian family, attending church, a Christian school etc) that I am redeemed by God's blood and grace but I don't think I have really ever tried to understand what that means. I really like the second part of the definition "restore the honor and worth of". God through His shed blood has made me worthy of something and honourable. I have been blog slacking of late because for one this summer has been crazy busy with weddings, buying a house, moving my sister, cottage holidays etc but also because I have been trying to spend the time I would be blogging and spending it focusing on my "blogging" or my chatting with God. I donno about you but I find it so much easier to just give God my 20 minutes a day for a short devotional but I can sit at my computer for hours reading about your lives etc and oh how ashamed I am of that fact and yet it's easy to just recognize it but that won't fix it I have to do something about that and so I have been.

This is not to say I was not spending time with God before this I was just I don't think I was giving Him enough time if you know what I mean. I'm finding such a sweet peace inside me and I feel like my relationship is growing so much stronger and I'm excited about that. This year I have seen a friend loose her husband, I saw a horrible disease (cancer) take my grandma's life and I saw her fight so hard and bravely to beat it but she didn't, I have felt the pain and longing to be a mommy and yet am not yet pregnant, I have felt and experience the joy and pain of friendships, I have experience the joy of buying a house and the nervousness and anxiety that brings I have suffered my own personal health issues and the fear and uncertainty they bring.

I read something the other day that really moved me and I feel obligated to share.“...Our healing begins when we participate in the suffering of God. When we don't avoid it but enter into it, and in the process, enter into the life of God. When we see our pain not as separating us from, but connecting us to our Maker...” Oh how true that is. As I heal not only physically but emotionally I can only do that through connecting to the Master Healer. I truly believe that my suffering is a rare opportunity from God to showcase how awesome He really is - and He is really awesome!!
and that suffering has a way of connecting people…sometimes in weird circumstances…but the result is usually for the better. I was listening to Selah ( a group whom I love dearly to listen to) and they have a new song out called "unredeemed" and I encourage you to listen to it.
*On a side note as a musician myself I am continually at "awe" at the gift Selah has in writing songs. I have studied many different forms of music song different styles and listened to millions of different songs yet none as talented as the group Selah and their song writers - one day I pray I can be half as talented. * I am so glad that God takes me and all my brokenness and he uses it. I am really trying hard to remind myself each day that this could be my last. I know sounds like a horrible thought but I truly believe that if we thought that way each day we would live our lives differently. We are not guaranteed tomorrow it is by God's grace we have tomorrow. I am continually challenged as I look at many others out there suffering so much more or differently than I am and yet their faith and strength is so strong. I guess I say all this and it might not make any sense as I'm very exhausted and writing this very late but its just all floating in my head and I wanted to get it out. So I leave you with these lyrics by someone who is much more gifted with words then I am

" When anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord just watch and see it will not be .... unredeemed".

What a promise and truth those words hold. I am hoping to start blogging again my frequently but not at the expense of my time with God ( or my husband and my family cause I love them dearly to) ... now to start catching up on all your blogs...

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Well I have been so busy - excuses I know - so busy in fact that I have a million, yes that is a bit of an exaggeration, blogs to catch up reading but busy is sometimes fun and in my case it has been.

Well where should I start - probably with my most exciting news... WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!! My husband and I have been saving saving saving for over 2 years now and praying for God to show us where he wants us to live and start a family and buy our first house. We have lived in two different places since we've been married equating to two different apartments and as hard as living in an apartment has been for us it was worth the wait. We truly believe that God wants us to be wise with our money after all it is all His money he has just in trusted it to us. So my husband and I agreed on an amount of money we wanted to have before we bought a house. So we started looking seriously in about the end of May... we looked in two different cities and were just praying that God would show us His will for us and bring the "perfect" house for us. We found lots we like but none that we "loved" until June 25th - we viewed 4 houses that day and we fell in love with the first house of the day. 85 Bloomington.... 85 is a great number as it was the year both my husband and I were born... the house is only 2 years old and we wanted a newer home... its the perfect size we wanted .... and they accepted our offer on the first try so we definitely felt Gods hand in all of it. We don't close till October but thats ok because we are just so excited and thankful for finding "our house"... which still sounds very weird to say. So we are excited to start this new chapter in our journey together as homeowners.... so I spend my nights lying in bed dreaming of how Im going to decorate my house ect... its so exciting!

Other exciting news my cousin who is like my little sister came on June 18th and has been staying with us for the past 4 weeks and it has been so much fun. I love her to pieces she is just like a mini me and Im sad she is leaving on Friday, but it has been so fun and we have made some lasting memories. She and my other cousins and Uncle and Aunt live in Peru and are missionaries there so its hard to believe I wont see her for another 1 1/2 as they come home ever 2 years (they were home last summer on furlow) but next time she comes back to stay for college so Im excited for that and for her to come stay in her bedroom at MY house!!!

My husband and I have also been busy packing for our trip out west. We fly out tomorrow to Calgary for 5 days as my sister in law (my husbands sister) is getting married on Saturday. We are very excited about our short trip especially to see our niece who we met at Christmas but is now 11 months old and growing by the day. I am looking forward to the trip it will be very very busy and fly by I know but we intend to enjoy ever minute of being together with family as distance makes that hard to do alot. I will take pictures and post when I get back.

So all in all our lives have been very busy this summer and it doesn't look like they will be slowing down anytime soon but it is an enjoyable busy if you know what I mean.

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far. Is anyone still following the bachelorette? I almost had to stop because Wes was getting on my nerves too much but so happy he is gone and Ed is back!! I have been rooting for Ed since the first episode and was sad when he had to leave and I respected his decision cause I don't know what I would do in that situation. I really like Reed, Kiptyn and Ed - ultimately I hope Ed wins but the other two guys I would be just as happy to see with Jillian. So we will see.... oh reality tv what would we do without you!!!

What a weekend ....

I, yet again, am lacking in the blogging department and Im sorry about that. Everyday I am like "ok today I must update my blog" and that day comes and goes and I never get a minute to do so. So today I made myself sit down and take a few minutes to update. Let me tell you though I make sure I read all your blogs so I dont miss in any of the excitement and action going on in your lives - but its easy to read it from anywhere on my blackberry - just harder to update from there.

This past weekend my cousin and her husband and baby came up to my parents cottage with me and my husband. What a fun weekend we had!! The weather was amazing on Friday and Saturday - and even though it rained on Sunday we had tons of fun playing games ect. We managed to stay up till 3 am on Sunday playing games and laughing having a good time.

Here are a few pictures from our weekend with them!!

playing a little phase 10 on the deck Saturday night

one of my husbands "catches" of the day

Demi and Kinsley (my cousin) fishing




my mom loved loving on this little guy all weekend - made her itch to be a grandma even more ...
one day soon I hope mom!!



I loved cuddling and holding this little guy all weekend - he is such a good baby.


Well I have many more pictures but this is just a taste from our weekend. It was so fun I am looking forward to many more with them this summer!

On a different note let me just say there was a lot of yelling, cheering, clapping, whistling when Ed came back last night on the Bachalorette... Oh I was a happy girl!! I hope he wins thats all I can say... although I like Kipten and Reid too... we'll have to see though. As long as Wes is gone I'll be happy. Hope everyone is having a good week. Tomorrow here in Canada is a holiday, so its a nice little break in the week for me. Although typically we get a long weekend with our holiday this year it falls on a Wednesday - but Im not complaining, a day off work and to sleep in with my husband, who cares which day that falls on.

Picture Post..

I have read on a few other friends blogs that they are in a blogging "rut" too so I guess Im not alone. Maybe its the summer weather... who knows but for whatever reason Im finding it hard to blog. Maybe because things in our lives are kinda in the air right now and I am hoping after a meeting we are having tonight my husband and I will have some more direction. So with not really much to say I will share some pictures from my nieces ballet recital on Saturday and then because someone asked I will "gloat" and show off my beautiful bouquet of flowers that my husband sent me for my anniversary.

P.S. thanks to the sweet friends that wished us a happy anniversary - I felt so loved so thanks.













Well my sweet friends tomorrow is Friday!!! finally the weekend... maybe your week hasn't been as long as mine but it doesn't matter if you've had a great week or a crappy week EVERYONE LOVES THE WEEKEND!!!

P.S. I just have to ps again because I just wanted to mention to anyone who watches the bachelorette I was sooooo sad to see Ed leave... I know he had good reason and I totally wouldn't know what to do in his situation but I was rooting for him to win... now I have to go to my second choice... thats for another post though... oh reality tv!!

2 years ago today....

June 16, 2007

I was feeling probably the most excited, nervous, and beautiful I have ever felt in my life. The weather was much like we are having today - sunny and hot!! It was the perfect day - the day I had spent my life dreaming about and it was a dream come true because I married my prince charming. I can't believe its been two years but other times it seems like it was more than that. Happy Anniversary baby I love you so much and am so thankful God made you just the way he did cause your perfect for me. I have loved spending the last two years with you enjoying special memories sometimes sad, funny, exciting, stressful but all along we did it together and God has brought us closer. I can't wait to see what this next year will hold for us.

My family

My new family!!

Me and my "new" husband!!


HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABY I wish you were home and not working out of town this week so we could spend our special day together but we will celebrate later this weekend!!! P.S. I have to gloat that I just received the most beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to me at work from the sweetest man on earth - my husband is the best!!


*note* I know I have been blog slacking lately - I have been keeping up with reading all of your posts and I even got a sweet message from a blogger friend yesterday morning saying she was praying and thinking about me - that means so much. We need lots of prayer right now as we are making some big decisions which I cant talk about right now but I will blog about as soon as I can say.... mostly I have been slacking cause we have been really really busy... its hardly even into the summer and our schedules have gotten busier and busy is fun yes but leaves not alot of "down" time... so I have pictures to post from my nieces dance recital this past weekend but for today I want to just think about my husband and remember our special day 2 years ago.

Busy Week...

What a busy week I have had but it has been alot of fun but man oh man am I a tired girl today or what. We had a lovely weekend visiting and my ice cream dessert was a hit so I definitely will be making it again - now I can't wait to be invited over to someone house so I can make it again... Then on Monday my husband plays softball so he had an early game which was nice then we came home and my sister my mom and I all watched the Bachelorette - I just have to say I really liked Jillian last year on the Bachelor and I still think shes a very beautiful and sweet girl but so far some of her men choices as in who she keeps and who she lets go have made me very disappointed - like what is she thinking?? oh well - then my sister spent the night on Monday so that was fun. Then on Tuesday my grandma came over and my mom my sister, my grandma and myself headed to Toronto for the night for dinner and to see "The sound of Music" and let me tell you it was amazing. I now want my husband to take me again - I just love seeing shows partly because I used to do some (on a much smaller scale) and I just love all the singing and acting - it makes me miss it so much.

* I do have pictures of the evening and I will post them as soon as I can find my camera cord*

Then Wednesday was my sisters birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST SISTER EVER for real!! and hubs and I went out for what was suppose to just be "coffee" even though the girls drank tea with my cousin and her fiance... well he shut the coffee shop down at 11 - man how time flys when your enjoying yourselves... Now it's Thursday and I feel exhausted and can't believe Friday is tomorrow - I have to get laundry and packing done tonight as we head to the cottage tomorrow as my husband is in a fishing tournament again this weekend. Busy lives we are living these days but I wouldn't trade them for the world. We have some other exciting and nerve racking "Stuff" going on right now in our lives to - so we are just praying and really waiting quietly and patiently to see God's leading as to what we should do. I will post more on it all when I can talk about it for now I ask that you just pray!! And I know some of you will and I love you for that. I also want to give a shout out to my new followers - I love meeting new people and I get so excited to see new people finding my simply, boring, sometimes exciting events of my life... Well enjoy your Thursday whatever the day may bring for you - and if it happens to be a rough and not enjoyable day hold your head high because the weekend is right around the corner!!

Friday Already???

Well its hard to believe its Friday already - I didn't even get a short week like all my American friends did and yet this week still flew by! I don't have much to blog about - I have really be debating posting something on the whole Jon & Kate situation as I am an avid fan and love watching the show - so I have been "wrestling" with the idea of doing a posting about my thoughts on it but I have decided not to - not because I dont care or because I dont have an opioion or thoughts on the situation but simply because we don't really know the truth behind the whole situation so to make comments, accusation ect on something we dont know the truth about would be wrong. Also it really is none of my buisness - even though they have choosen to be a public figure by doing the show and have open themselves and their lives up for us all to watch their decisions and lives are theirs to live and they will be held accountable for their actions one day. I just have to leave it in God's hands and pray for both of them that they will fight for their marriage and for their family and for the children in all this I pray that they will feel loved and a sense of security even in all this crap for lack of a better word.

SO here are a few random thoughts/comment from this week and going into the weekend!

• Watched the Bachlorette and Jon and Kate on Monday night - great tv night
• Husband finally returns today for atleast the weekend
• Going to try out a new ice cream cake recipe to take to dinner tomorrow night
• Going to dinner at Kinsley and Demi's tomorrow night - going to have a fabulous night of visiting and loving on their baby boy
• Had a great girlie time this morning visiting over tea
• Anticipating great weather this weekend
• Going out on a date night tonight with the hubs - dinner and a movie so looking foward to it
• Have been majorly slacking this week in the blogging area- life is just too busy yet too boring all in one

• So happy to see I have another new follower - shout out to you please leave me a comment so I know who you are

Well those are all random facts/comments and I apologize they are all over the place but just trying to get the brain to slow down so I can get all my thoughts out. Hope everyone has a great weekend. Are you doing anything exciting??

A new American Idol and one happy girl...

HE DID IT!!! HE WON!!!! Way to go Kris Allen you deserved to win and I was relieving my childhood days as I jumped up and down and screamed with joy when he was announced the winner. So proud of all my Arkansas friends who voted you all must be so proud of one of "your own" winning!! I was so glad when I saw his wife get up there and hug him - she must be so proud. I can't imagine if that was my husband I would be dying to get up there and hug him and kiss him with pride. I am not only a happy girl cause he won - how sad and pathetic would that be - its Thursday that means tomorrow I get to see my husband... oh how I can't wait!! I am thinking we will probably go to the cottage again as they are calling for fabulous weather and what better place to be then escape the busy city life and head to the quiet relaxing cottage maybe even get a little golf game in. I love living in the city don't get me wrong but I also love escaping to the cottage on the weekends to just relax. I have been really journaling alot - if you know me you know I love to journal my thoughts and I find it therapeutic to look back on what I've written years ago and see what God has taught me and brought me through . I am just compelled today to be thankful. There really is so much I could sit her and complain about - I don't even need to give examples because giving into listing all I have to be sad about, to complain about takes the Joy the Lord has given me away. I am choosing this day to be thankful. Thankful for so much that I really do take for granted. Simple pleasures like the weather, health, a place to live and sleep, food to eat, vehicle to drive, gas to make my vehicle run, a husband, a husband who loves God and loves me despite all my flaws, my families (both mine and my husbands) and the list really could go on... how about that its almost summer that means sundresses and sandals my favorite time of year. There really is so much to be thankful for but I so often especially lately have been letting my complaining and the things I don't have cover and hid all I do have and all the things I should be thankful for. So what are you thankful for TODAY!?! Honestly if you think about it, it just may be the "medicine" you need to cheer you up today!!

I beat I know what Kris Allen is thankful for today!! :)

Hump day...

Well I had a fabulous weekend with my husband at the cottage - although it rained Saturday and was really chilly on Sunday, Monday was beautiful and the sun was shinning it was great. Got to spend time with our friends up there and their little boys so all in all it was a great long weekend that went by all too fast. Now I am back to being "single" for the week and it still sucks... after 3 weeks of this you think I would be getting use to it but I'm not I like being married and I miss my husband. I have had alot of time to watch shows I enjoy since he isn't here "stealing" the remote to watch the nhl games etc. Did you watch the Bachelorette? I watched it with my girlfriend Lindsay... I can't really say who I like and don't like yet its too soon to really "know" the guys but I think they are trying to make it more dramatic then the Bachelor so it will be interesting... after all I am rooting for Jillian not only because she is awesome but she is Canadian come on that in itself makes her great and she is gorgeous as well. I am also excited for AI finale tonight. I am hoping that Kris wins after all he has been my favorite since the beginning of the show but I have a sick feeling Adam will win - but whatever happens I know Kris will go far in the music industry and I can't wait to buy his cd. If I could vote (seen as we can't in Canada) I would have been voting like crazy just like my blogger friend Jennifer was last night. I hope it worked and Kris wins... The weather today is so beautiful out - nice little breeze with warm temperatures. It is getting me all too excited for summer. I am just hoping the weather is here to stay! I have way more to say but I have a headache and I think it is partly to do stress - just alot on my mind ya know. I know we all go through times like that when you wish your brain had an on/off switch. I really could use that right now. So I will post more when I can digest all the "stuff" in my brain and maybe then my posts will be more exciting. Please pray for my blogger friend Crystal her baby Bentley had open heart surgery this morning. So pray pray pray! We have a great God who is the great Physician and the great Healer so I know she is in good hands but we can never pray too much. Well this is officially the middle of the week and even though I've had a short week with having Monday as a holiday I am still looking forward to the weekend :) I know Im crazy about my weekends but who isn't??

He's gone...

Wow I can't believe Danny got voted off last night - although I have been rooting for Kris since the beginning I was really hoping the finale two would be Danny and Kris. Personally I think they both are the most talented and versatile but alas I guess America disagrees with me - its too bad Canadians can't vote... but lets be real her all three of the boys will make great music careers and really they are all going to go places - American Idol was just their beginning really.



Well He - my husband - is still gone too :( but I will be seeing him tomorrow night and I can't wait. He is going to meet me at my parents cottage for the whole weekend - and since here in Canada it is a long weekend that means I get an extra day with him. I can't wait!!!! all you married women out understand my excitement. Now I'm just praying for some nice weather so we can lay on the dock and just relax all weekend long!!!

So tonight is another big night in television - sad that this post is mostly about tv shows I know but with a clean house, lots of baking done and the husband still away tv is the next best thing to occupy my time - Grey's Anatomy promises to be a good show again tonight. Although I personally (and yes everyone is entitled to their own opinions) think last week was the best show ever in all the season of Grey's it was the prefect mix of drama, love, sadness and happiness all in one hour I am excited to see what tonight's show will hold. I am also particularly happy because my sister is coming home tonight so I don't have to watch it alone again - its so embarrassing sitting on the couch with my dog by myself crying over a show.... I have heard rumours that Izzy dies and rumours she lives... I am a huge Izzy fan she is probably my favorite character so of course I want her to live but I don't understand at this point how she can live and still be a good vibrant character but we will see.

So my week again has been busy with cleaning, baking, coffee dates and tonight I will be heading after work shopping with my sister for shoes for a wedding she is in this weekend. Nothing like leaving it to last minute Sis but hey I'm happy to help. Shoes and shopping two of my favorite things.... then gotta watch my Greys - then tomorrow morning head to my cousins for tea and cuddling her sweet baby - then work for a bit and then heading to the cottage - makes me tired just thinking about it all but I'm so excited too. Thanks to those of you who have been praying for me in my journey to be a mommy. The days are still really hard for me right now - I'm not sure if Mother's Day is still looming over me or what but something is keeping me down but I am praying harder each day and I know this is all bringing me that much closer to my sweet friend Jesus. I received on my last post a comment from someone who has walked in my shoes and someone I have grown to admire. It was a simply sweet comment but one that encouraged me and literally made my day. It reminded me that even in my journey and struggle I need to be reaching out and encouraging others because I know how much it means to be thought of and receive notes/comments of encouragement myself that people are thinking and praying for me. So thank you to my sweet blogger friends who are praying for me and write me and encouragement it means alot - you are being the hands and feet of Jesus to my broken heart right now and I pray His riches blessing on you and your family's as you have been blessing me.

A busy week and a difficult day...

I have been so busy and have been ignoring my blog a bit too much and I feel terrible about that. *just so you know even though I didnt have time to post on my blog - maybe that was because I didn't know what to say or how to say how I was feeling, I always made time to check out your new posts *

I know my last blog I promised pictures from my weekend at the cottage - of course I forgot my camera. Then last week my husband left on Monday for a week away on business which he will be for the next 3 weeks. So in order to try and not miss him tooooo much (obviously I'm going to miss him) I was planning to try and keep busy maybe even start a scrapbook but as the week played out there wasn't time for it.

Let's see Monday (last Monday) my sister came home for the day so we went out for dinner with my parents then we headed to watch my brothers first baseball game of the season - only person missing on the team was my husband whom will be playing when he is done all this travelling for work.

So I figured oh Tuesday I will update my blog - well my cousin who is getting married in October called me and wanted to go for coffee so of course I couldn't pass on the opportunity to hang out with her and help her with wedding stuff. While we were out for coffee she asked me to sing at her wedding while the girls are walking down the isle. Of course I said yes and I feel very honoured - I have sung at weddings before but I just feel very special to be part of her big day.

Wednesday I went for dinner with my mom and then we did some shopping for new carpet for the cottage and some other fun stuff.

Thursday night I of course could not miss Grey's Anatomy - I had already missed all my other shows that week so I was not missing Grey's then I did some house cleaning and baking so I had some good eats for my hubby when he got home on Friday to a clean house. Friday finally came and he got home with flowers in hand - he is the best!! We went out just the two of us for dinner on Friday night and had a wonderful evening just the two of us.... on Saturday we went for a run in the morning before making a great breakfast but only got half way through our run when it started to pour... but I love to run in the rain - needless to say we were soaked when we got home but it was fun. That afternoon we headed to my cousins house and hang out there for the evening and got to enjoy their company and their little baby. It was a fun evening for us both but holding that baby made my heart ache even more for a baby of my own - and I knew Sunday would be a hard day.

Mother's Day - I knew it would be tough but I never knew it would be that hard for me. I had planned a special meal for my mom - I wanted to make her day as special as I could because she truly deserved it. plus I thought if I get busy doing a big meal and stuff for her it will help me feel better and I won't feel as sad and I wont hurt as bad. Well of course I wake up in the most foul mood - sorry hunny!! and I knew why so I worked hard a biting my tongue all morning and as I sat in my pew at church singing the words to the most beautiful songs filled with words of truth I thought ok God you know I need your help today - I thought I was holding it together well until the baby dedications happened and then the tears just flowed and I couldn't get the valve to shut off on them. My heart broke and for a minute I was angry. Angry that everyone else around me was a mommy, they had their beautiful babies they had a day special designated to them a day that only brings pain to me. I quickly got control of my attitude and I tried to just be grateful I still have a mom - I thought of my dad and how today was his first mothers day without his mom - and how he must be hurting too. Sure his hurt was different from mine but pain is pain, right. We went home and I cook what I think was a hit of a meal... I had fun doing it to. All in all I'm glad mothers day is over for this year - and only God knows what next mothers day will bring for me. And although my pain is still there today my sadness remains I am trying to be positive and look for the flowers in today.

Today marks the start of a new week, another week where my husband is gone - but I already have plans again this week so I hope it will be a good week, it will go quickly and then the weekend will be here which happens to be for us Canadians a long weekend. Now if we can have great weather for our long weekend at the cottage that will be a cherry on top.

I hope everyone had a great mothers day - its been fun and hard at the same time to read about other blogger's first mothers days as mom and it looks/sounds like everyone had a great day.

Not that my mom reads my blog but if for some reason she did I just want to say I love you mom and am so thankful for you. I feel blessed to have you as my mom and not only my mom but as my friend too. You're the best!!

My beautiful mom!!

Friday again....

It is Friday again - I guess I just kept myself so busy this week that the week flew by but that's alright because now its the weekend again!! We will be heading up to the cottage this weekend and I am hoping we have fabulous weather like last weekend. After having 3 days of rain this week I hope the rain is out of the weather system after all April shower's should be over because it is now MAY!!! but I won't complain because I would rather have rain than snow like my blogger friend Callie keeps getting. My husband is in a fishing tournament this weekend - the first of the season so I am hoping he has fun and maybe even wins - extra cash is always nice. I'm not sure what my weekend will entail as he is fishing - but if its nice weather I will definitely spend alot of time outside enjoying it. We are heading to Matt and Lindsay's for dinner on Saturday night so that will be fun to see the boys again and hang out with friends.

Its hard to believe May is here already - next month I will be celebrating my 2 year wedding anniversary. Hard to believe its been 2 years but then other times it seems much longer than that. I'm already thinking about what we could do for fun to celebrate - of course we don't want to do anything too expensive with the economy the way it is and trying to save for a house and the fact we have already taken 2 trips this year already and are taking one again in July so we'll have to be creative. Any suggestions of things you and your husband have done to celebrate?

Monday my husband is leaving on business for the week - he will be home on the weekends but he will be gone a total of 3-6 weeks depending on how long the job takes to get done. I am definitely not looking forward to that but I am just glad he has a good job right now and so that is all I keep reminding myself of. I'm not sure what I will do with the spare time... I would love to start scrap booking but I am so scared because I don't think I'm creative enough. Any scrapbookers out there that would care to share some advice to getting started? I was given a bunch of scrap booking stuff from a lady who owned a store but I have never used it and I would love to especially now that I'm going to have some free time on my hands.

Well I hope you have a great weekend and great weather wherever you live. Hey if it does rain at least I have a good book I'm dying to get through so it will give me the perfect excuse to just read all day.

P.S. Sorry I have no photo to post but I'm sure after the weekend I will :)

Wordless Wednesday...

One day my husband will make a great father!!

Its only Tuesday...

I guess after being on a "high" from such a busy but fun weekend it feels like the week is dragging on - not to mention I am still exhausted from the weekend. I usually sleep in on the weekends but having two little super sweet boys who wake up early I choose to rise at 7:30 both Saturday and Sunday which my body isn't used to so I am still "catching" on my sleep. Today the weather is not very nice and its raining but I still choose to go for my jog/walk this morning but had to cut it short as my puppy was freezing cold due to the rain. I am hoping the weather clears up for the weekend as we are heading to the cottage because my husband is in a fishing tournament this weekend. Plus then I get to see the little boys again and hang out with my dear friend again so if the weather turns nice again it will be a fabulous weekend again. Tonight I am heading to my cousins to hang out with her and my other cousin (her sister) so it should be a good time for us and our spouses to hang out. What are you doing this fine Tuesday night? Are you watching American Idol??

Great friends, a fun weekend that ended so soon...

I can't believe its Monday again, where did the weekend go? Too fast is my answer... but it was such a fun weekend. Friday night Matt and Lindsay and the boys got here around 9 and the boys were sleepy so we thought they would go right to sleep but we were wrong - they got a second wind... but look at their faces!! they are sooo cute I love them to pieces.

On Saturday morning we got up and headed to the Toronto Zoo. They were calling for rain in the afternoon so we wanted to get there early that if it did rain we still got to see most of the Zoo. Well the sky was so blue and no cloud in sight, so we walked and looked at all kinds of cool animals. Us adults enjoyed it but it was so fun to watch the boys!! It was so hot though, it was nice but soo hot so we had to keep hydrated. We were home about 20 min when the strom hit - how cool is our God. He held the rain off till we got home!!




We forgot Ty's hat so he wore my hubby's all day - does he not look so cute here pointing at one of the animals. The boys were so good all day - and my husband and I had so much fun with them and their parents.







here you can see my hubby carrying Ty and Matt (the boys daddy) carrying Nate and my dear sweet friend Lindsay (their mommy) taking the picture from behind. I am so sad the weekend is over already but it was such a fun time. It was what I was needing to remind myself that even though geographically we aren't close friends we are in our hearts. I thank God for putting Matt and Lindsay in mine and my husbands lives because they are such great friends and so fun to be around. Don't you love how God puts people in your life like that - people that you can be yourself around and they still like you. People that you know will just always be your friends!! Its cool when you know you have people like that in your life and I don't think I can say I've really ever had friends like that before... so I guess even though this post is about our fun weekend its also an "ode" to friendship and how important it is in our lives.
I will leave you with one more photo from the weekend because lets face it these two little boys are two cute for words and yes I was like the paparazzi all weekend taking their photos. What did you do this weekend? did you have good weather?