Winter Creek

As I was walking today, having remembered my camera I took a few pictures to capture some of the winter beauty. Even weeds can look good in the winter. This one of the creek is probably my favourite.

Faithful readers will call this post. Where I mention about the little creek that runs though what used to be the pasture land on our farm. And during the summer months, I like to take detours over to the creek and sit for awhile. Sitting there at the creek gives me opportunity to be surrounded by God's nature and to think about the hustle and bustle of daily life. It seems as if people have no time to pause and to think. We're too busy and too often we let opportunities pass us by. We think there's too much to do... and we rush frantically from one task to another. While this time of year you won't find me sitting by the creek; but seeing it gives me hope; of the summer to come, when I will take time to slow life down and reflect on my life.

Blessings

Sunday afternoon drive

Remember those? "an automobile trip typically taken for pleasure or leisure on a Sunday, usually in the afternoon. During the Sunday drive, there is typically no destination and no rush". As a family we used to spend many a Sunday afternoon driving around. I'm not sure if it was to get us kids to nap in the afternoon or why we journeyed with our parents on their adventures. I just remember looking out of the backseat window, watching the scenery go by waiting till we would return home.

Flash forward to married life, Sunday afternoons became the time for my husband to catch up on his sleep from his crazy, busy, week as a dairy farmer. oh how I used to dread those times. Not knowing many people since I was new to the community and being more secluded because we lived on the farm, I found Sunday afternoons seemingly to last forever. Once our kids came along it made Sunday afternoons a more memorable time.

Today, Wayne & I returned from a Sunday afternoon drive. It was two fold - he was driving a spare bus run the next day and needed to find where all the stops were and it was a great opportunity for us to spend some time together in a different venue which allowed for great conversation. hmmhm maybe that's why my parents liked it so much.

Blessings

POST 400

WOWszer's, I've actually made it to my 400th post. Back in 2007, when a dear friend suggested that I start to blog, two thoughts went through my head. One; what will I blog about? and two; who will read it? Obviously number one hasn't been too much of problem seeing as how I am my 400th post. Number two, I've learned over that past few years, that yes, while I like to have people read & comment on my blog, I don't do it for that reason. I do it because I need to get my thoughts, ideas, hopes & dreams out of my head and on to paper, where it's concrete. How important is it to write out our thoughts and feelings? I'm so glad that God decided to put His thoughts and feelings into the written Word! I love to know that He thinks about us constantly and carries us in the palm of His hand. I'm thrilled to learn about His character and read about the experiences others have had in His presence. Words have power - and we have the privilege of preserving them in our journals every day.

When we take time to record our memories, journal our prayers, and write down our thoughts, we truly give ourselves a gift to be opened over and over again. We can recall times of laughter, be encouraged by God's faithfulness in difficult situations and feel a sense of comfort by expressing and managing the emotions He's given us. It feels good to revisit the joys and even the struggles in our lives, because God is working in us and building our trust through every circumstance. We never outgrow His gentle and wise instruction.

So as I blog my 400th post, I want to remind us all to use our journals as an opportunity to appreciate the gift of the written word - and a chance to allow God to encourage our hearts and remind us of His unconditional love and continued faithfulness.

My journal has become one my favourite reads..... and perhaps one of my greatest teachers.

Blessings

Schizophrenic Christian

Ever wonder who you are? For me, I have several different roles, I am a daughter, a wife, a mother, a sister, and a friend. But who am I... really?

In the 1980's, David Meece sang the song Mother, Muffler, Mozart and the Beatles, unfortunately I cannot find a youtube version but to hear a snippet of it, go to his website, go to Discography, click on the "Front Row" CD cover and listen to track 3. He tells the story of growing up with a mother who didn't like anything but classical music in her house. She went so far as to say she didn't like 'country & western garbage' and for years he thought that's what it was called. And after hearing someone exclaim they liked country & western, he replies 'oh you like garbage'. So one day while practising Mozart on the piano he hears his mother driving off {because of her loud muffler he is able to hear her leave and return}. The moment she's gone he switches from Mozart to the Beatles with very little effort. As he hears the loud muffler announcing the return of his mother he quickly switches back to Mozart. He goes on to say that alot of people live their lives like the way he and his brother played the piano. Switching from one style to another depending on who you're with. He goes on to imply that some Christians even do that. It's when you act and talk one way when you're with one group of people, but when you get with a different group of people, you become someone else. It's like there are alot of Schizophrenic Christians running around loose all over the place. The quote "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” by Dr. Seuss is a great reminder to me. While I need to be sensitive to others around me, I also must be who God created me to be.

Just think - I am not here by chance but by God's own choosing; His hand formed me and made me the person I am, I am one of a kind; I lack nothing that His grace cannot give me; He has allowed me to be here in this time in history to fulfill His purpose. {a paraphrase of the poem by Roy Lessin}

Blessings

Simplicity

As a regular reader of Christianity Today this on-line article both intrigued me and challenged me.

The Experiment
I wanted to simplify. But could I really put a stop to all my spending?
Celeste Palermo

"I've stopped spending completely," my sister-in-law, Lori, announced one day. "I'm going on a spending fast."

"You're doing what?" I asked, almost choking on my latte.

"I'm going on a 40-day fast," she explained. "I'll buy groceries but nothing for myself. No shoes, no clothes, not even lipstick. I'm going to break myself of my spending habit."

I hung up the phone challenged. I always counted on Lori to support my spending. She'd tell me, "Indulge a little; you're worth it." Her spending hiatus made me think about my consumption habits.

I've never considered myself a big spender. In fact, when I was a newlywed, I kept my checkbook balanced to the penny and budgeted every purchase. Yet as my income increased, so did my propensity to spend.

These days, I don't really think about what I need, just what I want. I have to admit, I spend impulsively. Perhaps, I thought, I should go on a 40-day spending fast too.

The Plan
Surely I could give my credit card a rest for 40 days. If Jesus could resist the Devil that long, I could resist the mall. But it proved harder than I thought.

The first thing I did was mark the 40 days on my calendar. This took some planning, as any given 40-day stretch included birthdays or holidays. What would I do about gifts?

I made a budget, giving myself a cash allotment for groceries, gas, and basic necessities. For the special events during my spending hiatus, I'd find a way to make do. And on all personal expenditures, I decided to go cold turkey—including even what I call my "paper-cup habit," the feeling I got from holding a coffee-shop drink made just for me.

Just as Lori announced her no-spending resolution to me, I told my close friends and family. I knew if I was to stick to my plan, I needed support. I got instant buy-in from my husband who, after I advised him of my hiatus, was as happy as a man at the Super Bowl. Friends and extended family provided encouragement by limiting their invites to fancy restaurants and shopping excursions, and by holding me accountable.

The Period
The first few days were a breeze. Delighted by my ability to stay out of stores and make meals at home, I fancied myself a true money maven, sailing on a sea of savings. But by week's end, the winds picked up and the waters got murky. I wanted a paper-cup fix, was asked to host a holiday party, and needed to purchase a new book for my book club. I had to become more resourceful.

I decided to clean out my office in an attempt to locate a gift card I'd received for the local java joint. If I use the card, I rationalized, I'm not really spending. Though I failed to locate the coveted card, cleaning out my office provided its own reward, so I moved on to my closet. Then I cleaned out my daughters' closets. The amount of unused clothing, shoes, and stuff we had was unbelievable. I gathered three large garbage bags of items to donate to charity, and gained a new appreciation for all we already own.

Next, I listed all the things I wanted to accomplish over the next month and brainstormed no-cost options. I deemed the holiday party a potluck and sent e-mail invitations, saving on the cost of paper invites, stamps, and food. I reserved my book-club selection at my local library instead of purchasing it. I plucked my eyebrows instead of having them waxed. I took blank journals I uncovered in my office clean-out and wrote "Things I Love About You" for each family member celebrating a birthday. I packed brown-bag lunches and planned dinner menus based on the plethora of food already in my pantry. I even used frequent-flier miles to purchase airfare for a trip. Finding no-cash options became a game; though it took some work, it was fun and rewarding.

The Payoff
Over the course of my 40-day hiatus, I saved almost $2,000, based on what I typically would spend in the same timeframe. I could almost pay off my credit card with the money I saved, and I gained a new attitude about making do with less. The personalized journals were a big hit with my loved ones—even better received than my typical collared-shirt birthday offering. My cooking was heart-healthy, as I used the boxes of rice and bags of frozen veggies I'd stockpiled in my kitchen.

I finally located the coffee-shop gift card, but it had only five dollars of credit left on it. At first I was disappointed, but it proved to be a good thing. My latte-free days helped me rethink my paper-cup habit. Had I continued to indulge through the pre-paid card, I would have kept up old habits. Now, though I occasionally have a cup of coffee with friends, my three-times-a-week latte is history. That adds up to big savings!

Though the financial payoff was huge, the biggest benefit from my spending fast wasn't monetary. It was the realization God, not stuff, brings true happiness and peace. I learned to trust him more, even (and especially) with the challenges and temptations of everyday life.

I also was touched by how I can use my life—and not necessarily just my wallet—to benefit others. Donating the bags to charity felt good, but so did giving thoughtful gifts. Sharing my words and feelings with others was a gift of the heart.

Since my 40-day fast, I'm trying to be a better steward. My hiatus opened my eyes to see a more thoughtful, simple way of living. Now I'm more apt to let Jesus fill my cup—and that's better than any paper-cup drink ever could be.

Live simply, so others may simply live.
- Gandhi

Blessings

Musical Melody

Recently, I read an article about how people's musical preferences bring out their personalities. Apparently, a study has been conducted by a professor of Herion-Watt University in Scotland to correlate the link between a person and his or her choice of music.

So far, the results based on the responses from people all over the world indicate the following- Jazz and blues listeners are people with high self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease. Classical music listeners are people who also have high self-esteem, creative, but are more shy in nature, not outgoing. Country and western music listeners are considered hard-working and outgoing. Reggae listeners are creative but not hardworking, while rap lovers are outgoing.

The research also pointed out an astonishing similarity between classical music listeners and heavy metal fans that they are both creative, but not the outgoing types. Also, the professor has found through his research that those who drive sports cars and have blaring music through their radios, are the ones who are mostly high income folks while the folks who listen to softer, relaxing music are lower down on the income scale.

Now, that the research results are out, it would be good to pause for a moment and think about what type of music each and every one of us listen to and try to understand more about our natures. After all, at the end of a tiring long day, listening to good music is one of the few things that can be soothing and relaxing.

In fact, music, can even get us to take the stairs instead of the escalator. Case in point ... . ..


Blessings

Soup's on

Mennonite girls can cook is one of my favourite blogs to follow. Each day different women post a variety of super-yummy recipes. This was one that I just had to try. Potato & Ham Chowder
1 pkg. of boxed scalloped potatoes (any variety you choose)
1 cup diced ham
2 stalk of diced celery
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 cups half & half
1/3 cup flour
5 cups chicken broth
1 diced onion (any size you like)
Mix potatoes, sauce mix, ham, broth, celery & onion in crock pot. Cover and cook on low heat for 7 hours. Mix half & half with the flour and gradually stir flour mixture into chowder until blended. Cover and cook on low for one more hour stirring occasionally until thick. Garnish with chopped green onions, shredded cheese or sour cream if desired.

Can there be anything better than warm chowder on a cold day?

Blessings

Getting back JAZZ it!

Jazzercise a great way to stay in shape. Each class combines dance-based cardio with strength training and stretching to sculpt, tone and lengthen muscles for maximum fat burn. The instructor Val uses today's hottest music. Jazzercise is a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing. Wintertime is certainly a season for hot cocoa and fireside chats. But, chilly winter weather doesn't mean that you have to put your workouts on hiatus for an entire season. Sure, it's hard to motive yourself to keep moving when the temperature is cooler and the air is crisper; but I've found that joining Jazzercise keeps me in shape and well-balanced. Classes are twice weekly and when I incorporate fitness into my daily activities, I am much more vital and energetic.

Researchers have proved that women who enjoy their exercise activity are more likely to stick with it. And I love it, it's one great way to keep active.

Blessings

52 Kisses

We celebrated Wayne's birthday today, can it really be that my hubby has turned 52? YIKES!!! With all the kids out of the house we were fully prepared to spend a quiet evening just the two of us. However, mid way through the day, Krystle called and asked if we're doing something or would we and I quote "like to go out for dinner to London? Exeter? or have dinner at home?" So we invited Krys & G over for homemade pizza, garlic bread & Caesar salad. After dinner we played the game "Ticket to Ride." What a great game -having never played before I of course asked a zillion questions throughout the game. Ironically I won too!

Web description: With elegantly simple gameplay, Ticket to Ride can be learned in 3 minutes, while providing players with intense strategic and tactical decisions every turn. Players collect cards of various types of train cars they then use to claim railway routes in North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who fulfill Destination Tickets – goal cards that connect distant cities; and to the player who builds the longest continuous route. The rules are simple enough to write on a train ticket – each turn you either draw more cards, claim a route, or get additional Destination Tickets. The tension comes from being forced to balance greed – adding more cards to your hand, and fear – losing a critical route to a competitor. With its big format board games featuring high-quality illustrations and components including: an oversize board map of North America, 225 custom-molded train cars, 144 illustrated cards, and wooden scoring markers.

Ticket to Ride has become our new fav game -- simple enough to be taught in a few minutes, and with enough action and tension to keep us all involved and in the game for the duration.

What a great way to celebrate Wayne's birthday!!

Blessings

The year of the

Rabbit – according to the Chinese Calendar year anyway.

Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, according to a 12-year cycle representing twelve different types of personalities. The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are many stories about the origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is so. The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order and their characteristics
1. Rat: Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, intellectual, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, and shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, envious, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, and scheming.
Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
2. Ox: Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot-tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
3. Tiger: Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.
Tiger: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
4. Rabbit: Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
5. Dragon: Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
6. Snake: Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.
Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
7. Horse: Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile—mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
8. Sheep: Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.
Sheep: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
9. Monkey: Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
10. Rooster: Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
Rooster: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
11. Dog: Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
12. Pig: Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.
Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. According to this information, I am a sheep, married to a pig and gave birth to a rabbit, a dragon and a horse. No wonder it sometimes feels like we’re in a stable {smirk}. Honestly, I don’t put that much stock into things like this, I just find it interesting.

Blessings

baby, it's cold outside

brrrr..... although it's cold outside, I still like going for walks. Walking gives me the time I need to process all those different moments of life. 2010 was a year of many changes for me, some were easier to deal with and others..... well I'm still processing them.

One of this things I've learned is that times change. Things change. And even though there is nothing we can do about the changes; we can change our attitude about the circumstances we find ourselves in. Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

But what does it mean? This beautiful prayer was written by a man named Reinhold Niebuhr in 1943. The words have special meaning to those who are often “looking for peace” at a time of turmoil, despair, or uncertainty in their lives. This prayer has become closely associated with 12 Step programs, offering strength and calm in pursuit of a more stable life.

First, through uttering these words, we are acknowledging God’s existence and recognizing that He is truly the only one who can bring us inner peace regardless of chaotic circumstances. His wonderful presence in our lives brings ‘serenity’ that can be found nowhere else. There is a Bible verse that says the peace of God is beyond all human understanding. “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Until we allow the ‘peace of God’ to enter into our mind, heart, and soul, we will never experience that ultimate peace that defies the most severe circumstances in life.

The prayer goes on to speak of accepting, courage, and wisdom. It all comes down to asking and allowing God to give us these things. In other words, it is surrendering to Him. The second part reminds us that our trust needs to be in God to work things out and recognizing that we usually don’t have any real control over hardships in this sinful world or the actions of others. Trust Him and live one day at a time, enjoying each moment.

Serenity Prayer: How do I put this into practice? Perseverance and successes aren’t born out of good times. They are born out of trials. 1 Peter 4:12 says “...don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” The Bible tells us that we will go through trials and going through them makes us stronger. In our times of weakness, we learn to rely on God’s strength and He takes great delight when we trust in Him. We all desire to be needed and wanted; God wants this from us as well. He wants for us to turn to Him and trust Him.

Be encouraged -- Christ Jesus is faithful; we can rest on Him, trusting Him always for the outcome. We don’t always understand the “why” of things that happen and we don’t always need to. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” And in Hebrew 13:5, God says He will never leave us or forsake us. Never is long time... He is always there for us if we come to Him.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I carry is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).

In these Scriptures, we can see the relevance of the last phrase in the Serenity Prayer. If we surrender to Him, we can be supremely happy in Him, in this life and forever after.

Blessings

Fairy Tales

Ever been curious to know what the real deal was with the fairy tales we grew up loving? Behind the colorful, brightly illustrated and sanitized picture books brought out by the publishers, there's a dark, secret story that looms.

Fairy tales are those innocuous, requisite before-bedtime stories that have practically become ingrained in our culture from one generation to another. Who hasn’t heard of Cinderella or Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, after all? We’ve become so used to these stories and characters that we’ve practically become desensitized to the actual values they convey. Every mention of them ushers in a deluge of warm childhood memories that we fail to really think through these stories twice before telling them to our own kids as well.

What your mom didn’t point out to you was how the female almost always played the central figure in these stories and the stereotypical roles they played out. If she were the heroine, like Cinderella, she was a weak character, who constantly submitted to other’s wishes and did good. Everyday, she would look out of her window to the castle in the distance, constantly dreaming of her day of reward and pining for her Prince Charming to come and whisk her away.

And then there’s the feminine evil on the other end of the personality spectrum. In fact, there seems to be plenty more of these than heroines. Villains were almost always certainly female. Think of Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters. The funny thing is though, that in real life, stepmothers and stepsisters aren’t always evil.

Evil witches, wicked stepmothers, bad fairies, ugly stepsisters — each is a vivid testament of the wretched female carried on to children's lore. But stepmothers aren't always wicked. Fairies aren't always bad. Stepsisters aren't always ugly. And women certainly aren't always evil. Same goes that princes aren't always charming, nor are peasants always courageous and heroic. Just about everywhere, you can almost always be certain that the bad guys are... bad girls.

When Walt Disney began his cartoon and film career in 1927, he might have been unaware of how the public would rush to purchase his "original" creations. As Disney's popularity grew, he continued to expand his film creations, but generally by copying or "re-creating" fairy tales or other historical literature. In fact many people believe that Walt Disney was the first person to create fairy tales that made him so popular.

One indispensable element of fairy tales is, undeniably, instant wish fulfillment. You can only watch so many Disney movies without listening to Snow White chirping the tune to "Someday My Prince Will Come" or Cinderella in her rags, looking out to the glimmering castle in the distance and sobbing desperately to go to the ball. But they wouldn't be fairy tales now if good fortune didn't have Prince Charming and the fairy godmother come along now, would they? These stories teach children that life is all about wishes coming true and that life can be lived happily ever after. It's a dangerous perception bordering completely on the fantastic. Does your perception of the villain change when the heroine is wearing their outfit?

Blessings

Girl's Day

Having both boys home these past few weeks really had me craving some girl time. A girl can handle only so many farts, burps & other male ideas of a fun time. So I set aside today, for just that.

My morning was spent at Coffee Culture with Monica, enjoying a cuppa tea; where we talked, laughed and shared our lives with each other. The afternoon, I spent with Krystle. We met after she finished work and went to the apartment where we shared a delicious lunch of taco salad. Spending time with her is always such a blessing. We spent the afternoon making cards and chatting, sipping wine and really having alot of fun together. I can't think of any better way to spend a Saturday. thanks ladies!

Blessings

Season Two, Disc Three, Episode One

We're addicted, yes I must admit that Wayne & I are addicted to the T.V. drama LOST. It all started one Friday night, a few years ago, when Gerard came over to spend time with Krystle and were starting with Season One of LOST. Having never seen the show but hearing so much about it we asked if we could join them.... and we were hooked. Each year, new seasons would be available on T.V, and we'd watch diligently. Not being one who watches alot of television this was one show I wasn't going to miss. But with the craziness of life before we knew it we ended up missing a few episodes and then a complete season. And unfortunately, this is one of those shows that if you miss one episode you can be totally lost, (pun intended) in the storyline.

For Christmas of 2010, Wayne & I bought all six seasons of LOST, in a sweet Collectors Edition box with a few little extras. So for most nights you'll find us completely absorbed in watching an episode, or two, or even the whole disc if we're lucky. Catching up with Jack, Kate, Hurley, Charlie, Claire, Jinn, Sun, Locke and my favourite Sawyer as they go through their daily activities living on a deserted island.

Blessings

Back to the books

Darcy returned to Fanshawe today, to begin another semester of school. {sniff, sniff. sigh} Kyle goes back next week. {double sniff} When Kyle first came home he told me he was ready for a break from school, but after these few weeks off he's keen to get back to the books. Hopefully after having a few weeks off won't be too difficult for them. Getting back into routine will be good, not only for them but for me as well.

Faithful readers will recall that Wayne & I are empty nesters. So it took some time for us to get used to having both our boys home. Having our food vanish, scattering dirty dishes on the counter, leaving mountains of laundry in the bins. Don't get me wrong, it's been great these past few weeks having both of our boys home from school.

With Darcy in the Law Clerk Program and Kyle in the Police Foundations Program both 2 year programs, we've got a few more semesters ahead for just Wayne and I; until they come back, that is if they come back. Once they fly the coop they might not return, and that too will be something to adjust too.

Blessings

Happy New Year

Each New Year's Day I'm reminded that there is a whole new year ahead, brimming with possibilities. Giving me a chance to start again. And you know what – January 1st is just another day. But New Year’s reminds me to stop and evaluate where I am, who I am, and what changes need to be made. And because January 1st is in fact just another day... and tomorrow is another day… and then there’s another day... I’m reminded that there is nothing magical about New Year’s. Each day can be a chance for a fresh start.

Like so many others, I have thought about “resolutions” for 2011. But as I've grown older and hopefully a little wiser, I've come to realize that God made me who I am, with this personality, this body shape, my gifts, the likes and dislikes that I have. So I don't make New Year's resolutions because I know I will break many, make new ones as I go along and forget others... I want to enjoy a life well lived.

Have you heard the story about three frogs on a lily pad. One decided to jump off the lily pad. How many are now on the lily pad? The obvious answer would appear to be two... but it’s three. The one frog decided to jump off – but until his decision is put into action, nothing has changed.

We're each given 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 30 or 31 days each month, and there is nothing we can do to get more time all we can do is control what we do with our time. In Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version, ©2010) it says "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Looking forward into another year can be a little daunting. With not knowing what's ahead, I plan to put my faith in the ONE who knows the future.

Blessings