Come Be with Me

This song is swirling through my head today. It's full of meaning for me...from a time of hurting and waiting, to a time of fulfillment. Last night during worship, I went to the spot at the altar...the spot where I poured out so much hurt again and again years ago...the spot where I prayed so many prayers...and the very spot where just 2 1/2 years ago I knelt with Les in the darkened sanctuary the first time I told him I loved him. Old hurts be gone, waiting over, prayers answered...I thanked God for His amazing love and treasured up in my heart God's man, my Les. Face streaming with tears, I opened my eyes and saw the pastor's Bible open under my arms, I turned it around and my eyes fell on the very passage in Ephesians 3 that God gave me just before Les entered my life....

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches
he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (v.14-19)

...and then the verse that He gave us both as we came together despite all barriers...

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine, according to
his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen. (v.20-21)

Come Be with Me
Written by Amy Grant, Co-written by Beth Nielsen Chapman

Baby this life can break your heart
Everyone hurts to some degree
So while this world is falling apart
Why don't you come be with me?

Don't you know that life can be so cold
When you're without the one you need
How much longer do I have to go?
Waiting for you, come be with me

Love can be so simple when you let it flow
Keep it in your head, feel it in your heart
Send it through your soul

Look up at the stars burning bright
Listen to the wind whisper sweet
Heaven and earth know the moment is right
Why don't you come be with me?

(Repeat Refrain)

Look up at the stars burning bright
Listen to the wind whisper sweet
Heaven and earth know the moment is right
Why don't you come be with me?

Heaven and earth know the moment is right
Why don't you come be with me?

I'm Getting Excited about this...

Encounter starts this week, and I just had a look at the outline of weekly topics for the next 8 weeks...it is looking good! It looks like the focus will be Ephesians...

Encounter
Lakeview's Wednesday Night Service
Every Wednesday from October 20 - December 8 @ 6:30 pm, come out for a different kind of service, with more in-depth teaching and worship.

Also, kids won't want to miss "Adventure Club", the new kids program being offered for kids birth to grade 5 during the service.

The first season of Encounter will deal with the book of Ephesians. Here are some details of the following weeks to come in this series.

October 20
“Gathering, Listening, Learning, Worshipping”
Introduction to Encounter

October 27
“You Can't Get Closer Than In”
What it Means to be "In Christ"

November 3
“Keeping Our Head On Straight”
The High Calling of the Church #1

November 10
“God Dwells Where?”
The High Calling of the Church #2

November 17
“Behind Curtain # 3... Revealed!”
The High Calling of the Church #3

November 24
“The Weakest Link”
God's Call to Live Like Him

December 1
“When Death Becomes Life”
Baptism Service

December 8
“Battle Cry”
The Armour of God

For more information follow this link... (www.lakeviewchurch.com)

Parenting is not always easy, is it?!

I haven't mastered the art of creatively correcting my daughter yet without risking the scorn of her not liking me (at least momentarily). I know, it's not about being 'liked'... As my dear friend Alana continues to remind me, 'They need a mother, not another friend!' ...and I get that, I do... and I am willing to risk my daughter's scorn if it's a matter that goes to character. I am willing to endure it for her because she's worth it...so worth it!

This weekend, Alana passed along to me an illustrustation she once heard a speaker use that has really got me thinking. She said to imagine that you are preparing your child for a trip in 18 years and that you have to help make ensure that they have what they'll need in their suitcase by then.

I've been thinking a lot about what I want in Amanda's suitcase (in about 9 or so more years). I want her to have an intimate relationship with God, not just knowledge of God, but a deep relationship. I want her to have confidence in herself and knowledge that she can do anything. I want her to have a compassionate heart and a willing spirit. I want her to be self-motivated and have good common sense. I want her to be able to take care of herself (and her someday family, if God so chooses). I want her to be a good friend and be able to sometimes take care of her friends when they need it. I want her to know how to be safe but not end up being totally closed off. I want her to be brave and to hold tight to her values. I want a lot of things for her... and in the end I want her to know that there are two people in this world who will always think she's such a living dolly, who will love her no matter what, but who love her way too much to ever let her compromise.

Oh this parenting thing...they're right, you know, when they say that when you become a parent you start walking around with your heart on the outside... not easy no-sir-ee..

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....


I know, you probably don't get it...why am I singing?! ...because it's snowing!...the first fluffy soft snow of the year! And while that will mean shoveling (in the not too distant future...later this morning in fact), I can't help but be excited... I love snow, expecially the first snow of the year. I love how it feels and how it crunches! I love how it looks at night...everything twinkles! Winter has always been my favourite season (despite the odd -40 degree day). I love snowflakes on my cheeks, snowangels on my lawn... I love snow covered branches, snow cornered windows... I love how cozy it feels inside, sipping a hot cup of sumpin' (tea, cocoa...)! So this morning I'm singing, enjoying a caramilk coffee and eating warm oatmeal, homemade with cinnamon, raisens and brown sugar. There's nothing like hot oatmeal to warm you inside and out! I've got bread in the oven and will serve it with homemade soup for lunch when Les gets home. I think I'll throw some chicken in the oven for supper, but for now, I'm going to head out and play...er, I mean shovel...well, maybe play a bit. I think my scarecrow needs his own snowflake to hold and our lawn...er, snowbank, needs an angel!

Come on, get in the spirit....

• make your own snowflake here (http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/)
• play some snowflake yahtze even (http://www.papersnowflakes.com/)

...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! :)

Lord, thank you for the beautiful snow, please open our hearts to enjoy it and find You in it, and please keep all those traveling and those driving around today safe (and patient) on the roads. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

I think most people would consider me a fairly patient driver, but even my patience was tested today when the right lane was closed on Circle Drive. They seemed to have set up the signs a long way from where the work was actually being done on the side of the road, and we were at a complete standstill much of the time, making us late for our trip to the pumpkin patch at Dutch Growers. I could handle being a few minutes behind if it just affected our plans, but you see we were over 15 minutes late in meeting some friends, and I really don't like to inconvenience others that way.

Still, I was doing pretty good really, until I started noticing the steady stream of fancy half tonnes that kept whizzing past us in the right lane...that's right, the lane that was closed... They would speed past the halted traffic and then squeeze back into the left lane at the point where the roadwork was being done...thus making those of us who had been waiting a long time, wait even longer. I kept thinking to myself that I shouldn't be so frustrated by what they were doing, but honestly, I kept thinking that if one of them even tried to merge back into the left lane in front of me, I wouldn't let them... Guilty thoughts then emerged...I mean, what happened to 'the first shall be last', what happened to my usual patience about such things? ...and then I heard this coming from the seat behind me where Amanda, my 9 year old daughter, was sitting, "All right already! We're getting old here!!" I couldn't help but laugh out loud, it had even gotten to my darling 9 year old daughter and was aging her in the process... (She's too cute, don't you think?!!)

Now there's a place I haven't been to in a while...

...Dutch Growers (http://www.dutchgrowers.ca/)... The other day my friend, Alana, was able to pop by there, and now I have a hankering to go and linger there a bit, maybe share some tea...so it's official, on Saturday my friend Arliee and I are taking our girlies there before we head to church so they can explore the pumpkin patch...



I love to browse around places like Dutch Growers and look at the plants and flowers, home decorations, Christmas decorations, etc... (I do miss the crafts though...they used to have a wonderful craft supply section...) They even have a bistro, and it's painted so beautifully...just a wonderful environment to be in!

If I were to ever have a store of my own it would be a craft store/book store/tea and latte spot. Remember the feeling of walking into the old Willow Wisp store (the one that was in the old Johnny Appleseed location)? I'd love an old fashioned two story location with a big front porch. When you walk in you smell grandma's kitchen. There are cozy places to sit and nestle in among the crafts with books on crafty shelves throughout. You can sip your cider, tea or latte as you look...all cups have saucers and there are safe places to set them down as you look. Music is playing in the background...sometimes it's folky like Carolyn Arends, other times it's celtic-y, and other times it's my favourite Bach string concertos. You feel welcome to linger, taking it all in...go ahead and find a spot and sit down and read to your heart's content (afterall, if it's a dream, we don't need you to purchase the book to keep our doors open...) This sounds like a place where I'd like to be...but coffee break is now over, so it's back to being an accountant for me!

Well the turkey-bird is in the oven...we are celebrating Thanksgiving today. Les is off at work right now, and I am making the cranberries for our feast. Soon both sides of the family will be here. It will be a busy day, but I don't want to loose sight of what it's meant for.

My heart was struck this morning when I did some research on how Thanksgiving came about in Canada. I found out (as highlighted in my last post) that Parliament, when declaring the second Monday of October as Thanksgiving in Canada, marked it as a time of giving thanks to 'Almighty God'...and I have a lot to be thankful for...

Here's a partial list:

- God's love and His grace, abundant and true

- my handsome husband... I waited what seemed like a long time for him, but God was faithful, and Les is everything on my list of what I wanted.

- my living dolly, who made me a mommy:)

- our home, a warm place where we live and grow in love

- our friends, people like the Henry's who have been such examples to me of God's family... Alana, who has been my heart's sister, who taught me to be brave and who encourages me so much... People like Caroline, who have been there for us and shown constant and unconditional love. People like Arilee who have lifted me up as mommy and helped me along...

- our extended families... Les' folks who moved here to be closer to us (well probably Amanda), who've had such a tough year... my folks, who have had to let go of their little girl...

- our jobs... although I'm feeling too much stress these days, I still thank God that I have a job and pray His strength through it

- our church... my role has changed so much in it over the last two years that sometimes I don't know where I fit, but I am thankful that they take me where I am, and I'm thankful that Les and Amanda have each found a place there. I'm thankful for Encounter and Adventure Club which will be starting later this month, for the timing of it and that there is something for each member of my family to look forward to and grow in.

- the beautiful sunshine streaming through my windows right now, the gorgeous fall trees, the sunsets I've been seeing all week, the feelings I have inside, and once again, the God who paints this all just for me (well maybe not just for me, but sometimes it feels that way:)

The Canadian Thanksgiving Day came about because of a combination of
traditions. Before the first Europeans arrived in North America, the farmers in
Europe held celebrations at harvest time. The farm workers filled a curved
goat's horn with fruit and grain to give thanks for their harvest having been a
good one. This horn was called a Horn of Plenty.....or a Cornucopia, and the
farm workers who started a new life in Canada took this tradition with them.

In Newfoundland in 1578, the English navigator Martin Frobisher held a
ceremony to give thanks for surviving the long journey. He was later knighted
and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in Northern Canada named after
him.....Frobisher Bay. As other settlers arrived they continued these
ceremonies.

In 1621, in what is now the United States of America, the
Pilgrims celebrated their harvest in the New World. By the 1750's settlers
moving to Canada from America had taken this celebration to Nova Scotia. At the
same time, French settlers arriving in Canada with the explorer Samuel de
Champlain held thanksgiving feasts and shared their food with their Indian
neighbours. After the seven years war ended in 1763 the citizens of Halifax held
a special day of Thanksgiving.

At the time of the American Revolution,
the people who remained loyal to the Government in England moved to Canada and
spread the Thanksgiving celebration to other parts of the country. Other English
settlers were also used to having a harvest celebration in their churches every
Autumn.

In 1879 the Canadian Parliament declared the 6th November as a
day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years the date has changed
with the third Monday in October being the most popular time. Finally on the
31st January 1957 the Canadian Parliament proclaimed that....

'A Day of
General Thanksgiving to Almighty God
for the bountiful harvest with which
Canada has
been blessed.....to be observed on the second Monday in October.'

From... http://www.crewsnest.vispa.com/thanksgivingcanada.htm

Interview with God

Having watched the Father's Love Letter again recently, I was reminded of this: http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/ (check out the presentation:)

The poem it's based on goes like this, but you really need to see the pictures as well...

THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.

“If you have the time” I said.

God smiled. “My time is eternity.”
“What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered...
“That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future.”

"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...
“As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons
you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved.”

“To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others.”

“To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them.”

“To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings.”

“To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently.”

“To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
“Just know that I am here... always.”

-author unknown

Have you ever watched the Father's Love Letter?

If you haven't here's a link... http://www.fathersloveletter.com/fllpreviewlarge.html

I remember the first time I saw it a couple of years ago, my eyes were just so full of tears... :)

What I'm singing these days...

Ever since the concert, I can't get this song out of my head or heart. I've been singing it every day...kinda feeling like I'm Laura...

Saved By Love

Laura loves her little family,
And she's the kind of woman who loves them with her life.
But sometimes in the evening,
When the world rests on her shoulders
With four walls closing in,
She'll close her eyes.

Oh....

It's not like she misses being younger,
Though she never was in Vogue magazine or on TV;
Her husband loves her dearly,
And the morning shows her clearly,
Kisses her little baby girl.
Laura, she's the queen of the world.

Can't imagine ever leaving now,
Now that she's been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love.
Listen to her quiet heart singing loud.
Laura, she's been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love.
I know that she's been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love.
Saved by love.

There's nothing quite like my family's love to warm me,
And nothing short of death's gonna ever leave me cold.
Well, still at times it's lonely,
But through it all it only
Makes me love Jesus more,
And this is what He came here for.

I can't imagine ever leaving now.
Now that I've been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love.
He's gone and turned my crazy world back around,
And I've been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love.
I know that I've been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love....

Oh, I'm never leaving now,
Now that I've been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love.
He's gone and turned my crazy world back around,
And I've been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love.
Amy, she's been saved by love,
Saved by love, saved by love....
Saved by love.

I'm saved by love.

That's right.
And nothing I can say,
Nothing I can do, nothing I can say.

We're all just saved by love.
Nothing you can say, nothing you can do.
Only love can say, only love can do,
Only love can say.

Only love can say, only love can do,
Only love can say.

I'm say-yay-yaved by,
I'm saved by, by,
Nothing you can do, nothing you can say,
Only love can say....

I think I'm missing something...

I'm not big on McDonalds. I mean left to me, I don't think we would ever eat there, but Amanda adores their Cheeseburger Happy Meals, and so occasionally we find ourselves in line at McDonalds after a skating lesson or dance class. It's sad, I know... I think that Amanda's fondness of that place has more to do with the marketing than the food though (but she'd never tell you that). I think it has more to do with the toy of the week. When I was young, restaurants didn't give out toys or treats with meals...not even McDonalds. A few weeks ago Amanda was disappointed when Grandma & Grandpa took her out for supper and they went to Montana's...no toy to take home. Likewise when we took Amanda and her friend Britney out to Denny's before the carnival at the Church a while ago, she was disappointed again...no toy... Both times she would have preferred McDonalds even though I'm positive she preferred the food at Montana's and Denny's.

A friend of mine recently mentioned the movie,
'Supersize Me'. I hadn't heard much about it, but did check out the website and a blog on it this weekend. I actually think I'd like to see this movie, but I'm not so sure my daughter would like me to see it...as it may reduce the number of McDonalds trips she gets...afterall she already has enough toys.

Here's a quote from the blog:

"Morgan Spurlock went on a 30 day McDonalds only diet. 3 meals a day. Only food that McD's sells over the counter. And he must supersize the meal if they ask him. He started off the diet in perfect health, and at 185lbs. He got the help of 3 doctors a nutritionist and a personal trainer to monitor he progress...and for health reasons. For a man his size they recommended 2500 calories a day. The figured that he was eating 5000 calories a day.

A couple of finds:

- a regular Yogurt parfait + granola has more calories than hot fudge sundae
- only 7 things on the menu contain no sugar – french fries, hashbrowns, iced tea, coffee, diet coke, chicken mcnuggets, and sausage….even the salads contain sugar
- “results for liver are obscene beyond anything I would have thought” – one of his doctors, after 21 days

The final report:

He suffered from massive headaches when he didn’t eat McD, mood swings, and felt depressed and exhausted most of the time. His medical tests showed that he had 2x the risk of heart failure and heart disease, his liver was fat, his cholesterol was 230 and he gained an amazing 24.5 lbs. Oh, and mentioned that his sex drive was “worthless”. He also said that he had massive cravings for McD's when he wasn't eating. Overall, he ate 30lbs of sugar, 12 lbs of fat, and took him 5 months to lose 20 lbs after the fact.

Watch the movie. Think about what you are eating. Crazy, crazy stuff. Basically, the doctors told him to stop 3 weeks in because his body was (especially liver) was very sick. Insane.

Oh, he puts some of the burgers into glass jars for a few weeks to see how they decompose. After 10 weeks he throws them out. The fries look like they were bought that day. No mould. No fungus. He wanted to see how long they could go, but his intern mistakenly threw them out. Very creepy."

I find this very interesting. If you've read my blog for a while, you know the disappointing news that I learned last spring about aspartame and how it actually makes you gain weight... So as hard as it was I've given that up...

And I think everyone knows to avoid trans fats, another sometimes hidden ingredient that actually addicts us to certains foods and adds to our girth. This is something I've always been very careful with.

Well, the latest thing I've been reading about is glutamates (including MSG), which are in so many foods (not just fast food) and so hidden that I don't know how I could eliminate it from our pantry... Apparently, glutamates are very addicting and cause us to eat more of certain foods than we should (this was also shown to be a factor in 'Supersize It'). Also, glutamates fall under all sorts of names on food labels. I don't understand how food manufacturers and restaurants can continue to put ingredients into food that are so bad for us and also be able to hide them in their ingredients list...

I miss the days of Weigh Down (a Bible focused weight loss program that I did really well on). It taught me to trust my body that God made, to get in tune to it's signals of hunger and fullness and give the rest to God. Now-a-days, every time I turn around I'm forced to focus more on the food and make sure it has no artificial sweetners, trans-fats or glutamates. When I was in Weigh Down I didn't focus on the food at all, just ate whatever I wanted when I was hungry and stopped before I was full. I would focus on God and thank Him for all the jewels He sent my way. I did exercise when I could because it felt good not because I was trying to control how many calories I burned that day. Now I run around feeling guilty if I miss a day of weights or the gazelle and have to take special care reading labels to make sure the food is righteous before I put in my mouth. I think I'm missing something...maybe we all are...

Wonderful concert last night! I was really touched by how vunerable Amy can be when she talks about the songs. I think my eyes were full of tears most of the time that she was on the stage, but since I only have a few minutes here, I'll just post one cute story about my husband at the concert.

Les and I took our seats a while before the concert started so we could get a good look at the stage, and, in particular, the guitars on the stage. I correctly picked out the Gibson (special edition, I think) that Amy's lead guitar player (who was awesome) would play (he only used one guitar...Les says, 'when it's a Gibson, you only need one!'...but I digress..). Les pointed out Vince's tele. Les also pointed out the different amps up there...he even thought he saw a vintage Vox, etc. I pointed out Amy's accoustic, a MacPherson (I think Les was impressed that I remembered as this isn't a common guitar). In any case, this is stuff we do all the time. Les loves to survey what others are using in comparison to what he uses. His focus isn't always when he gets to perform for others so much as when he's downstairs in our house jammin' with his Marshall cranked.

Once the concert began, Les seemed impressed with Amy changing off accoustics every few songs...a fella from off-stage would come and exchange guitars with her. Les said that they were likely re-tuning them back stage in between. (If you know my darling hubby, you know that tuning is a big thing to him, so this was all good...and Vince did the same thing during his performance).

Anyway, after one of the songs in Amy's concert, I whispered to Les about how her lead guitar player used his slide in his solo. Les made a few comments back, and then Amy started into her next song, 'Simple Things', which if you know me, you know is one of my songs...I just find Les and myself and our life in there... So Amy's singing the chorus ('I dream of simple things I can believe in, like the feeling this day brings...True love and the miracle of forgiveness, I believe in simple things'). Then the spotlight moves to her guitar player who lets into an amazing solo, after which Les leans over and whispers into my ear, "That's what I need...a spotlight!" I just giggled...Amy's singing about 'simple things', and my unassuming, modest and introverted husband tells me he needs a spotlight for when he's jammin' out at home:) He's so cute!

Amy & Vince Tonight!


I have looked forward to this concert for a long time...probably most of my life...and now it's finally here. Tonight Les is taking me to see Amy Grant and Vince Gill in concert!

Why does that excite me? Well first of all, it's a date with my handsome and amazing husband! That alone would be reason enough to be excited, but you see there is more...I have been a fan of Amy Grant since I was very young and have never seen her in concert. When I was a girl, singing into highlighters in the privacy of my bedroom, more often than not the singer I was singing with was Amy Grant. Then as I got older and my own relationship with Jesus became more personal, as I would drive between Saskatoon and Regina on the weekends, the singer who accompanied me on more of my trips than any other was Amy Grant. I not only sang her songs, but I found myself in them. It was amazing how her lyrics spoke my heart, and in a way discipled me in a time when my faith was maturing. ('Arms of Love', 'Raining on the Inside', 'I Love a Lonely Day', 'Father's Eyes', 'If These Walls Could Speak', 'Ask Me', 'That's What Love is For', 'All I Ever Have to Be', 'If I Have to Die', 'So Glad'...and so many more...)

Now I know there are many out there that simply don't like her music. I know that there are those who don't consider her to be an artist with depth. Perhaps you are more familiar with the exceptions, song-wise, that the rules of what sort of songs she usually writes or records, I don't know. All I do know is that as someone who took music lessons for over 8 years and vocal lessons later on, I see a lot I admire in this artist, and identify more than I can put into words with the lyrics she writes.

There is, of course, another objection that some of you may have...which is that she is somewhat of a 'fallen' person...she's had some pretty public 'failures' by the Christian community's standards. To that I say what I believe Jesus would say, "Let you without sin cast the first stone..." I actually think that I have heard some of her best work since the controversy over her marriage. Legacy, her hymns album from two years ago is one of the best albums I own, and I think I've learned a lot about grace from her recent album, Simple Things, with songs like 'Innocence Lost' and 'Out in the Open'...

They were the sweetest words I'd ever heard
My heart could barely take it in
Like water offered to the lips
Of a tired and thirsty man

Cuz
it's a tangled web I've woven
I don't know all the reasons
But it amazes
me to wake up
To your mercy every morning

So I'm standing here
spinning around
In the fields of freedom
And I'm still alive and
reaching out
And I can feel the healing

Cuz you say
Come on out
come on out
Come on out come on out
Out in the open
Come on out come
on out
Come on out come onout
Into the light
There is no jury
There is no judge
Ready and waiting
Are the steady arms of love

For the sake of never making waves I
Kept my secrets to myself
And no one ever really knew the
Darker shadows of my heart

But I
will be a witness
That there's nothing in me dark enough
The power of
forgiveness
Cannot resuce from the deep

So I'm standing here
spinning around
In the fields of freedom
And I'm still alive and
reaching out
And I can feel the healing

And you say
Come on out
come out
Come on out come out
Out in the open
Come on out come on
out
Come on out come on out
Into the light
There is no jury
There is no judge
Ready and waiting
Are the steady arms of love

Oh how those words have helped me as I've walked beside a friend going through a dark time herself. That song has been like a personal witness of the truths in the Bible as we've read about Jesus and the woman at the well, the prodigal son and even the woman caught in the act.

Probably my favourite Amy Grant song is 'Open Arms'. It's an older one and you may not know it, but it's so personal to me. It's about God's wooing me and always being in His arms...

Guess I've got a lot of learning to do
About the
way that You love.
If it had been left up to me,
I'd given up a long
time ago.
But You've got a way of wooing me,
Tender and true,
And
though I don't deserve it,
I'm falling into Your

Open arms.
Your
love has taken hold,
And I can't fight it;
I'm giving in to Your
Open arms.
They pull me to You;
They wrap Your love around me;
I'll rest in Your open arms.

Only yesterday the thought came the to
me,
Is Your love as deep as they say?
Wonder where those questions come
from.
Soon as I learn, I'll chase them away.
'Cause I've had a taste of
tenderness,
Simple and true,
It drives away the doubting
And draws
me into Your

Open arms.
Your love has taken hold,
And I can't
fight it.
I'm giving in to Your
Open arms.
They pull me to You;
They wrap Your love around me;
I'll rest in Your open arms.

So that's where I'll be tonight...in God's open arms, with the man of my dreams listening to a singer who, through her vunerability over the years, has meant a lot to me, along with her husband who is such an amazing musician... It's going to be an great night!

"Greatest Hits 1986-2004" CD & Video To Be Released October 12th!

"The first “best of” collection from Amy Grant to span her pop career, Greatest
Hits 1986-2004 (A&M/UTV/UMe), released October 12, 2004, also features two
new recordings, “Come Be With Me,” featuring Keb’ Mo’ and co-written by Beth
Nielsen Chapman (Faith Hill’s “This Kiss”), and “The Water,” co-written by Grant
and with husband Vince Gill on electric guitar.

Executive produced by Grant,
Greatest Hits 1986-2004 picks up where her platinum 1987 retrospective, The
Collection, left off. Along with the pair of new tracks are 17 of the best-loved
recordings, each digitally remastered, from one of the most popular, influential
and groundbreaking artists in music. Included are 15 of her Top 40 Adult
Contemporary hits (all but her first two), with nine of those on her scorecard
of pop Top 40s to date (all but her first). ..."

Click on this link to read the rest of this article... http://www.amygrant.com/view_article.php?story=239

Amy's website also reports that on August 27th she headed back into the studio to work on another Hymns project...haven't heard word of a release date yet...it will probably be next spring I'd think.

Isn't Fall Beautiful?!

Extreme Home Makeover

Last night after we put our Dolly to bed, Les & I watched the fall premier of Extreme Home Makeover, which we taped the other night. It was a very touching episode...the Woffards, a Christian family with eight kids that was hit with the most horrible tragedy four years ago. I think I spent most of the show in tears. This family truly deserved a new home, and what the show did was wonderful, but what I was most touched by was how the community pulled together and made it happen, how their very own Church pulled together on this was inspirational! The contractor (a guy from their own Church who had never even built a house before) was amazing, and there were people like teachers from the Church up on the roof joyfully pounding nails. The girls basketball team even came and pitched in! I've seen a few other episodes of this show, and I have never seen them complete construction a day ahead of time, but they did this time (a whole 2 story house in less than 7 days!) The 'design team' from the show kept commenting as well how they felt something else at work here. No doubt that was God and His people:)

...and I've been thinking about that ever since. You see, our Church is pursuing a new building project, and without getting into opinions on it (the size and design of the building, the cost, the financing etc.), I'll just say that it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. I don't think it would be appropriate to go into detail here, but after watching that show, I couldn't help but think that if this building is God's will, that if our community, our Church (which is the people who make it up) were to get behind this the way the Woffard's did, well that it too would be amazing. I was deeply touched by the picture I saw of what Church really is on that program!

Tea and Giggles


Last night was so much fun...a girls'-night-IN, so to speak. My friends Tami and Arilee (and of course the darling Princess Aurora) came over for supper and to linger. Princesses Amanda and Aurora had too much fun playing Pollys and then Barbies, and Princesses Tami, Arilee and I had too much fun engaging in girl-talk and sipping on Tea of Love! These gals used to be part of my small group and I miss getting to meet with them and talk with them over some tea every two weeks.

Tami is gregarious and full of fun. She adds a touch of the unexpected to my life and reminds me to colour outside of the lines. She has the greatest laugh and an amazing heart.

Most of you who read this already know who Arilee is. She is the 'auntie-extraordinaire'. She's a very creative witty woman...who is a wonderful mom and has been such a cheerleader for me as a mom.

I admire both of these women and learn alot from them. Being with them always encourages me. We need to make more time for evenings like last night. Tea and giggles go well together:)

As I posted on Tuesday: "I guess I'm having a 'book-party' for Party-lite Candles. I went to a candle open house with my mother-in-law this weekend and somehow got roped into this. Actually, I was thankful to find a new consultant since my stock of votives and tealights was getting pretty low...plus I discovered some yummy new scents...belguim waffles, almond biscotti and pumpkin ginger:) If you're needing any votives/tealights and want me to bug you about it, let me know and I'll give you a call. "

Last night, the Party-Lite consultant called me with a special offer that I can extend to anyone who orders anything...

Buy 2 Get 1 Free!

That means if you buy 2 dozen votives, you get 1 dozen free; if you buy 2 dozen tealights, you get 1 dozen free; if you buy 2 candle holders, you get one of a value no greater than the average cost of the 2 free.

When I got home from work yesterday, I headed to the bedroom to change my clothes, and there, on the bed, on top of a heart shaped pillow, was this book, 'Keeping a Princess Heart in a Not-so Fairy-tale World'. (If you've read this blog before, you'll know that I wanted this book:) I cracked open the cover and the inscription read: "To the fairest and most beautiful princess of them all. Love you, Les" I have THE BEST husband! Have I mentioned how much I adore that man?!!

Drum roll please.....

I just learned that the release date for Carolyn Arends' new album, "Under the Gaze" is....TOMORROW! If you follow the links above to her site, there are lyrics and song-bytes from it.

I've been feeling a little bit Fragile lately...

...you know, easily moved to tears, needing a little extra care...and as I sampled Carolyn's new album on my tea-break this morning, the words to the song 'Fragile' really spoke to my heart. Here are her thoughts about writing the song along with the lyrics:

"I was once chatting with a group of good friends from my church about a mutual friend who was absent, and – to the best of our knowledge – had been struggling of late. "I think," one of my friends confided, "she’s always been a little fragile." We all nodded knowingly.

However much we loved our absent friend, in all truthfulness we didn’t label her "fragile" as a complement. It was a nice way of saying something along the lines of "emotional" or "weak". But I got to thinking later about how much we fight our weakness, and how much that fight flies in the face of the Apostle Paul’s promise that it is in our very weakness that God is strong. Leonard Cohen once said "There are cracks, cracks in everything – that’s how the light gets in." So why do we spend so much time trying to cover over the cracks?

I’ve come to think of my fragile friend (actually, I’ve got several, and one of them lives in my own skin) more like fine china – rare, valuable, easily broken and therefore deserving of respect and the utmost care."

(Fine china, eh? ...hopefully I'm a teacup with pink roses! ...SB)

Fragile
Carolyn Arends

Life would be easier in thicker skin
Yours is thin
Porcelain
It would be better if you wouldn’t cry
All your friends
They wonder why

You’re fragile, easily broken
You’re fragile, already scarred
You’re fragile, but haven’t you noticed
All the most precious things are

Well if the eyes are windows to the soul
Yours is blue
And beautiful
You just don’t have the knack for building walls
Whatever comes
You feel it all

You’re fragile, easily broken…

I’ve heard it said there’s got to be a crack or two
For the light to get through
It seems to me that you are meant to be the kind
Who shines

You’re always trying to find an even keel
Somewhere safe
And not so real
But you were made to live the lows and highs
A winter rose
A butterfly

You’re fragile, easily broken…

C 2004 Songs of Peer, Ltd / Mr. Marley's Music (ASCAP)

Sometimes we just don't know how to accept a gift...

...or a compliment, for that matter. One day this week at coffee time, I decided to head out to get myself a cup of tea. I offerred to get one for my co-worker as well if she would tell me what kind she wanted (she can't have caffeine, so I needed to know what her favourite herbal was). She fought me vehemently about it and decreed that I better not get her anything! Hmmm...it was just a cup of tea?! I was left feeling like I would offend her greatly if I did bring her something back. It left me wondering if I don't sometimes have trouble receiving a gift as well. I know I can have trouble receiving a compliment sometimes. I've learned to smile and try to just say thank you, but inside something just fights it. Maybe that's not good. I've been thinking about God's grace...how it's a gift...how it is undeserved....and how we must receive it. Do we receive it as fully as we should? Is there more grace that would pour out into our lives when we received it and said thank you if inside we weren't fighting it because we know we don't deserve it? My 'Devotion for Ragamuffins' said this today:

"Against all the canons of prudence and discretion, Jesus announced the dawn of a new age, the inbreak of a higher righteousness, that he had come to save not the just but the sinners. And the sinner is accepted prior to any statement of sorrow. First comes grace (given tenderness), then metanoia. Real sinners deserving real punishment are gratuitously pardoned: they need only accept tenderness already present. Forgiveness is granted: they need only the wisdom to accept it and repent. These are the poor in spirit whom Jesus declares blessed. They know how to accept a gift. "Come on, all you who are wiped out, confused, bewildered, lost, beat up, scarred, scared, threatened, depressed, and I'll enlighten your mind with wisdom and fill your heart with tenderness that I have received from my Father." This is unconditional pardon. The sinner need only live confidently in the wisdom of accepted tenderness."

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Ps 145:8

Roses in Me Heart...

That's what this site would be translated into pirate talk?!

http://www.mediocreminds.com/03q3/misc/pirate_translator/pirate_parser.php?target=http%3A%2F%2Frosesinmyheart.blogspot.com&mode=quick&sensitivity=2&submitTarget=AAARRHHH%21%21

It was too close for me to call last night when Theresa and Kalan performed for the final vote. I was especially moved though by one performance...

In tears, I watched Kalan Porter sing the song of his choosing, 'I Can Only Imagine'. What a beautiful performance! I am so proud of him for picking that song and bearing his soul that way. I completely disagree with the commentary of the judges, who appeared to not be able to understand.

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By Your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When Your face
Is before me

I can only imagine

{Chorus}:
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever ... worship You

I can only imagine

Well, tonight's the night...the finale of Can-A-dian Idol. I'm really looking forward to it. What started out as a program I watched with/for my daughter became something I've looked forward to the last couple of months...yes, because I could share it with Amanda and Les, but also because there have been some truly wonderful performances and some truly wonderful talents. Tonight it is down to Kalen and Theresa. Most people are predicting that Kalen will win, and that wouldn't upset me, but my heart is rooting for Theresa, the Saskatoon singer with so much heart...and being from Saskatoon, myself, I know that anything is possible...this is a generous province and I'm sure her voters will be out in full force. Whatever happens, I am sure that both Kalen and Theresa will have wonderful careers ahead of them. Each of them will sing 3 songs tonight: one they've sang before, a new one they choose, and the Can-A-dian Idol single which will be released shortly after the show. Each of these singers have given us a lot of wonderful performances, so I'm not sure which songs they will choose to repeat. I'd kind of like to hear Theresa do 'Good Mother' by Jann Arden again. We'll see... :)

I’ve got money in my pocket
I like the color of my hair
I’ve got a friend who loves me
Got a house, I’ve got a car
I’ve got a good mother
and her voice is what keeps me here

Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
I’ve never wanted anything
No I’ve, no I’ve, I’ve never wanted anything
so bad...so bad

Cardboard masks of all the people
I’ve been
thrown out with all the rusted, tangled
dented miseries
You could say I’m hard to hold
But if you knew me you’d know
I’ve got a good father
And his strength is what makes me cry

Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
I’ve never wanted anything
No I’ve, no I’ve, I’ve never
wanted anything so bad...
so bad

I’ve got money in my pocket
I like the color of my hair
I’ve got a friend who loves me
Got a house, I’ve got a car
I’ve got a good mother
and her voice is what keeps me here

Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself

Heart in hand
Feet on ground
Facing forward
Be yourself
just be yourself
just be yourself

Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Feet on ground
Heart in hand

3-2 Whooo-hooo! Canada wins!

I don't agree with Lacavalier as MVP, but why swabble when we won! (Maybe that stands for Made us Vunerable with a Penalty in the semi-final?!)

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20040914_191752_4624

Jacob Hoggart (top 3 finalist in Can-A-dian Idol) or rather his band has a web page. He has even written some prose in journal entries there....

http://www.hedleyband.com/

Well, Princepessa Amandalena had her first ever dance lesson last night! She's taking Worship Dance. It is offerred at Emmanual Baptist Church, and is taught by a wonderful woman who is, herself, a dancer. She teaches the girls various styles of dance including some ballet, jazz and even some hip-hop. Amanda is in a group of grade 4 to 8's, and it's so different to see her not be the tallest girl in her group:) When we came to pick our girlie up at the end of class last night, she was already doing a new dance she had just learned. Les said that he couldn't tell who liked Amanda's dance class more, her or me! I guess this look overcame my face as I watched her. I love dance! I wanted to be a ballerina when I was a little girl, but never got lessons, so a few year's ago, I enrolled at Juliet's School of Dance for the adult class. It was wonderful! Last year, I encouraged Amanda to try ballet, but she wasn't as interested, so I didn't push. Then this class came up this year and it's perfect. Amanda is so excited, and I'm just thrilled for her:)

Next, I'll have to make her a circle skirt....

Words mean alot to me, and these lyrics are so personal they are hard to share...

Anyway
Nichole Nordeman

Bless the day
This restoration is complete
Dirty dusty something must be underneath
So I scrape and I scuff
Though it's never quite enough
I'm starting to see me finally

A gallery of paintings new and paintings old
I guess it's no surprise that I'm no Michelangelo
Every layer of mine hides a lovely design
It might take a little patience
It might take a little time

But you called me beautiful
When you saw my shame
And you placed me on the wall
Anyway

You who have begun this work will someday see
A portrait of the holiness you meant for me
So I polish and shine
til it's easier to find even an outline of mine

But you called me beautiful
When you saw my shame
And you placed me on the wall
Anyway
Anyway
And you placed me on the wall
Anyway

I'll admit, I was hesitant to try it, being the true tea-girl that I am, but I tried one today and all I can say is mmmm, Tim got it right!

New Steeped Tea!

"Over the years, the one thing we’ve learned about making tea, is that there’s no improving on tradition. Tim Hortons is proud to introduce a new way of making tea using a time honored tradition – loose tea leaves. Why loose tea leaves? The secret behind great tasting tea is allowing the water to flow freely, surrounding the tea leaves and coaxing out every last drop of flavor. But we didn’t stop there. We asked a third generation tea master to design the ideal machine for making perfectly steeped tea, cup after cup. A lifetime of tea experience went into our new tea steeper. It gently steeps Tim Hortons own unique blend of orange pekoe tea leaves for consistently full-flavored results. So tea lovers, try a fresh cup of our new steeped tea."

Now if only it came in that cute cup with the spout in the picture...it's just not right drinking tea from a disposable cup (with NO saucer I might add)!

Upcoming concert dates to remember:

• September 30th - Amy Grant & Vince Gill - Despite the fact that it falls between the two day crazed inventory count at work, I'm excited about this. This will be Les & my next date. I'm very excited. I have never seen Amy in concert but have listened to her music probably since I was 13. Les is also pretty excited about Vince Gill. I don't think Les is a huge country music fan, but Vince is an amazing guitar player, so Les is pumped!
• October 24th - Carolyn Arends - She is probably one of my very favourite artists. I love the way she writes. Her lyrics express my heart:)

He said he was taking me out on Friday. I didn't know where, but when I got dressed, I just felt like dressing up. I put on the strappy black dress. He seemed to like it:) He took me to The Granary. We sat in a booth. Candle-light, dinner, the eyes of the man I love... When we got home again, my husband went down on one knee and asked me if I'd marry him all over again! YES!

(10 days from today is the second anniversary of the first time he asked me:)

Back to School

I loved this time of year when I was a child! I loved school! I was always excited to find out who my new teacher was...I loved teachers (even wanted to be one!) I loved getting new supplies...new pens, notebooks...kind of like a fresh page to start again:)

Yesterday was registration day for Amanda for grade 4. Afterward, we stole a little time alone for another 'Mom and Me Having Tea' time. Amanda's big prayer request these days is 'confidence...heading back into the new school year.' Here is this adorable girlie who is bright and imaginative, who is respectful and attentive, who is at a reading level grades beyond her age, and yet she is still a bit nervous about a new grade. I remember feeling that way too. We've been praying for Amanda's new school year that she would get the perfect teacher and the right class for her.

I took Amanda to her first day of classes this morning and stayed through the shuffles as they sorted out who goes where. At first Amanda was in a straight grade 4 classroom, and I was pleased because she's been in a couple of splits the last two years. I'd also heard good things about the teacher in this room, but before anyone could get too comfortable there, they announced a list of grade 4's that would be going into a grade 4/5 split. Inside I was kind of disappointed at first. I followed behind the kids as they walked up the stairs carrying some of their heavy stuff. It turned out that the 4/5 split is being taught by Ms. Buckley, Amanda's grade 2 teacher, and I saw Amanda relax into the comfort of being with a teacher that she had loved. The next thing I noticed is that the kids who formed a bit of a clique in her class last year did not come along to the split class, and my heart relaxed a bit more that maybe, just maybe this would be a really good class for Amanda this year. It may mean making some more new friends this year, but I'm thinking that perhaps God did answer our prayers for Amanda's teacher and class this morning. Oh there still could be changes and shifting, so we'll wait and see, but I left our girlie there with a strong sense of how much she is growing up...

Grade 4...no printing, there was handwriting on all the walls in the classroom...Grade 4...no more cloak-room, she'll have a locker...Grade 4...our girlie is growing up and it looks like it's going to be a great year!

(Now I have to look into hip hop classes as Amanda thinks this is what she'd like to do this fall...any suggestions out there?)

I'll bet this looks pretty simple to most of you. It is a sketch of this weekend's sewing project...my first-ever dress. Actually, it's for Amanda, and I'm so pleased with how it turned out! Amanda chose a Mary Engelbreit fabric with cherries all over it (and I should note that she chose Mary with no coaxing from me...) And now Amanda finally has an ankle length dress (as the stores don't make them that long for my tall-girl). She's in love with it, and that makes it so worth it! I actually enjoyed making it and have a sense of satisfaction that I actually figured out the lining and the ties in the back:)

The last couple of days have been filled with sewing (a dress plus hemming at least 5 pairs of pants for Amanda before she heads back to school), baking (scones, bread and cookies for back to school), cooking (homemade soup) and, of course, cleaning. The evenings have been filled with time with my beloved Les, church, and Amanda came back from the lake late yesterday afternoon. In the mornings I've been reading more in The Ragamuffin Gospel over a cup of tea. Life is good:)

Today, it's back to work for me...management meetings, sales meetings, budget worksheets, month-end.... and coffee breaks..speaking of which, this one is now over, so I better get back at it!

There's no such thing as a bad prayer...

In the Ragamuffin Gospel, Manning tells the story of a child of 3 or 4 who receives a colouring book and crayons for his birthday and who presents his mom with his first completed picture the next morning. He has colored the sun black, the grass purple...he has made squiggles and embellished where there was no picture. His mother, of course, thinks he must be a genius...echos of a young Van Gough....

"A little child cannot do a bad coloring; nor can a child of God do a bad prayer." Brennan Manning

"Can-A-dian Idol" Update

Well our Dolly went off to the lake for a few days with her bestest girlie-friend, Aurora, and Auntie-extraordinaire, Arilee...which means that she missed "Can-A-dian Idol" last night. (It's ok, we taped it for her). It's funny how hooked Les and I have become to this show through Amanda watching it, but honestly, I believe the talent pool this year is so much better than I've seen on any other idol show (including last season's American Idol).

We had a fun evening last night. First we met my 'longest living friend', Caroline (nicknamed that because we've been the closest of friends since way back in high school) at Earls for supper. What a treat?! (I hardly ever get out like this these days:) I had a Japanese Bento Box (sushi rolls, wananbe beans, peel & eat shrimp, and salmon....mmm). And we all shared dessert. We bumped into some other friends there which was nice. Good friends, good food, good conversation and then we headed home to catch 'Can-A-dian Idol'.

I felt like I had to make a post about Idol today because lately I've been getting alot of visits on this site from people doing searches for Theresa Sokyrka, Kalan Porter or Jacob Hoggart. I'm sorry folks, you are probably looking for a fansite, and the reason my site pops up is that a couple of weeks ago after one of their performances I posted about how talented I think these three are. I would be happy if any of them won it, and I think all of them have big futures in music....and last night's performance only confirmed that. Here is how I would rank each of the remaining five based on their performances last night:

1. Theresa Sokyrka...she sang 'Cruisin' so well...her voice is amazing!
2. Jacob Hoggart...he really shone last night...very distinctive vocal performance.
3. Kalan Porter...this wasn't one of my favorite performances of his, but he can sing anything...he may just be the best singer in the group; however, last night's song choice didn't showcase that.
4. Shane Wiebe...he sang well...I have to say I'm impressed by his range, but he did make a few flubs that make it hard for me to put him higher on the list.
5. Jasan Greeley...I know lots of the girlies like him, with those dimples and all, but he really isn't greatest singer of the bunch (or dancer for that matter...stamping your foot and snapping your fingers isn't dancing!) I think he certainly is an entertainer though.


Here's the chorus from Theresa's song last night...I just keep humming it this morning...

"You're gonna fly away
Glad you're going my way
I love it when we're cruisin' together
Music is played for love
Cruisin' is made for love
I love it when we're cruisin' together"

I discovered a great new blog today... Christy is blogging about her life as a singer, runner, mother and wife! I love it when people tell their stories!! Christy has a wonderful way of describing things. I related so much to what she's written so far, and even caught myself giggling a couple of times:)

Inspired by Donna, here is a list of 10 things you may not know about me:

1. I cracked my right wrist in grade 8 throwing shotput.
2. I was a candy-striper at the hospital all through high school. I preferred to work on the geriatric ward, and didn't care to work on the broken bone ward (got too shy around all those high school jocks in traction).
3. I am actually a pretty shy person (until I know people).
4. I took organ lessons for years and years. I wanted piano lessons, but we had an organ.
5. I took voice lessons in Regina while I was articling for my CA and told nobody who could possibly come about my recitals.
6. When I was 11 I decided that I wanted to be a child psychologist when I grew up so 'no child would be as misunderstood as me.'
7. When I'm laughing really hard, you know, the kind where you can't stop and your breathe starts to get short, I involuntarily wave my right hand in front of my face to try and catch my breathe. (I don't think it works, but it does amuse my longest living friend, Caroline, who teases me mercilessly about it!)
8. I grew up performing concerts in my bedroom to imaginary audiences. I would sing into my hair brush...and later my highlighter pen. I still do this sometimes when I'm alone in the car (without the microphone prop, of course).
9. I enjoy watching weighlifting at the Olympics.
10. When I'm really hungry and don't have time to make something, I like to eat a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar.
    

Feeling like a princess...

Remember the story of The Princess and the Pea and how high the mattresses were stacked? Remember how in the movies about princesses, they always have these very high beds (or at least high to 5'2" little ol' me!) Well, I now need a step stool myself to get into our bed.

Les & I have been looking for a headboard and bedframe ever since we got married, but usually everything we liked was too much money, so we kept putting it off. Well, last week, we went looking again and Les bought me this beautiful medium oak bed frame with headboard and footboard. It is really lovely. He negotiated an awesome deal on it too, and we set it up on Friday night. You wouldn't believe how high the mattress is... I think it's at least as high as my waist?! (Of course, at 6'4", it isn't quite as high on Les). They never look that high in the pictures?! Les says I need one of those springboards that the gymnists use when mounting the balance beam just to get into bed! But I love it! It's so nice to finally have a frame as the mattress and boxspring no longer shift as much, and I just feel like a princess laying in our new bed! :)

(I couldn't find a picture to post...but it's something like this one, except a nice rich wood with slats and a thick frame.)

An Early Birthday Present for Les...

The other night, my darling hubby and I stopped in at one of his favourite stores, Long & McQuade, to replenish his stock of strings and picks as he's playing at Church this weekend, and we learned some wonderful news... Long & McQuade is moving to a new store in Saskatoon. It will be the huge building that used to be Crafts Canada (River City Centre). The guys at L&M say it will be nicest store in Canada, and it should be ready in late November/December....just in time for Les' birthday! Needless to say, we here at the Brophy house are thrilled!

It is interesting to me how many businesses have opened a location in Saskatoon or expanded in some way since Les moved here. When Les & I were first dating, I didn't know what a London Drugs was, yet it was a place he frequented back home. He moved here, we got married, and now we have two. When we were dating, Saskatoon didn't even have its own Starbucks....now we have several. This L&M news seems to be following that trend. Can an IKEA or White Spot (our favourite restaurant in B.C.) be far behind?!

It's not about US...

“It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will not make sense.”
— Rick Warren

Great news...

...well at least I think it is... A dear friend told me that the Church is going ahead with plans for a mid-week (Wednesday night) worship service starting in October, AND that the new children's ministry leader is planning an AWANA-type program for the children at the same time! I've been longing for more worship (and teaching), so this is indeed good news, AND even better, I've been looking for an AWANA-type program for Amanda ever since she finished VBS this summer because she loved it so much. It would be awesome if this all worked out because often there are activities I'd like to attend or volunteer with at the Church, but I can't do it because of childcare needs or because it gets too late for Amanda (school-days are back soon and that means 8:00 bedtimes). I'm going to wrap this one in my prayers...first with thanksgiving, of course!
http://www.awana.org

Another personality type test was pointed out to me this morning. I'm a sucker for these things. I think there's alot to some of them (like MBTI). I think the greatest value that these sort of things provide for me is in understanding other people. I don't know how accurate this one is, but here's what I came out as... (If you take the test, let me know your results too.)


free enneagram test

"Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Suprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Delight me to see how your Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his, to the Father through the features of men's faces. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all."
Joshua Abraham Heschel

Les finally had a day off yesterday, and what did he do with his first day to himself in a long time(?)...he spent much of it being thoughtful and romantic toward me(!)... And when I got home from work, I was greeted with this amazing card ("sometimes I don't think you realize how deeply you are loved...") and a treasure box to open. Inside was a Debbie Mumm teacup (did you know she made teacups?!)...with a scripture on it (Ps 57:4 "May your glory be over all the earth." ...from the 'all things grow in love collection')!

This was definitely a jewel from God. You know, sometimes you wonder if you really are making as much of a difference as you want to. I love Les sooooo much, and I just want to be the best wife to him (and the best mom to Amanda)... The words in Les' card affirmed and encouraged me about the difference I make...and if I am the things he put in the card, then that is all because of The Father, so I lift that up to Him.

I'm so blessed to have Les in my life! I waited and looked for him for a long time (or so I thought), but he is ALL I waited for!
"I found THE ONE my heart loves!" (Song of Songs 3:4).

I love having people over....

Last night we had our dear friends Arilee and Aurora over for supper. I love having people over! We had supper, we visited, we had tea. I wished it didn't have to end, but girlies have bed-times... Arilee (auntie-extraordinaire!) is taking Aurora and Amanda to the parade today, so Amanda headed home with them for a sleepover last night so that they could get a good start on the morning.

Good morning! I'm just eating my breakfast (a mixed-berry scone) and scanning the news, then it's off to work for me. I just learned that there may be a new series starring Valerie Bertinelli this fall...I think it's called 'Sorry Charlie'. Last night as I was folding laundry, I caught the last five minutes of a program she was in, so I checked to see if that was perhaps the pilot for a new series...it wasn't...in fact, what I saw was the tail end of a movie she made in 2000. But in any case, it looks like she's set to star in a sitcom on FOX (a channel that I don't get) this fall...might be interesting. I grew up with shows like 'One Day at a Time', 'Sydney', and 'Cafe American', so I'm kind of interested in what the new series might be like.

I've been reading more of 'The Ragamuffin Gospel'...good stuff on grace. Last night I was struck by how much grace there is around us in the oridinary things of life:)

Yes, we've been watching Canadian Idol around our place. Our favourites are: Kalen Porter, Jacob Hoggart and of course, Saskatoon's own, Theresa Sokyrka...in no particular order. I am really impressed with the talent of these folks...although I can't help but be a bit biased for Theresa since we're both Saskatoon-girls. Last night might not have been her best performance (Joplin was a hard choice to sell), but she's got the pipes, and I just hope that no matter what happens that she will gain enough exposure from this experience to take her career to the next level. I pray this for each of these three...what phenomenal talents! ...makes me proud to be Canadian:)

http://mlb.csnnow.com/images/stararticle.JPG

Random thoughts and a Quote for the Day

For once the date and time stamp on this post is right...I made sure, which is something I barely ever do! I've been up since before 6 this morning, and since I am not a morning person, well I want it duly noted. I've already done my workout and had my shower. I'm just eating breakfast now and then will carry on getting ready for work.

In other news, my teapot has finally arrived! OK, I know it is 'just a teapot', but I can be a little thankful that it's finally here, don't you think.

Lastly, I'll leave you with this quote from Nicole Johnson that I stumbled upon. I think it makes some good points:

"Whenever I'm traveling by air I'm always amazed by the number of people who need to be the first ones to get on the plane. These are people who need to be first at everything. You run into them in the grocery store as they hurry to get into the express line ahead of you. You see them racing toward the elevator to beat other people on. It means so much to them, and I'm not exactly sure why. Like they think someone is going to hand out hundred dollar bills to the three people who get there first. There is, in fact, great freedom in not having to be first—not in being late or in being left, but in being free, in waiting, and trusting. There is freedom when you are not afraid to be wronged, not afraid to be misunderstood, not afraid to be forgotten for the moment. When you can trust that being last doesn't mean you are a bad person or unloved. That is true liberty and peace. Then you don't have to prove your point, be first on the plane, constantly defend your actions, or demand your rights. You are free to quietly trust, and that will change our hearts."

Princess-heart

Princess-heart is something that Les started calling me when we were first dating. He has several names for me that just make me melt:) As we were browsing through books at Blessings this weekend, one title really caught my eye..."Keeping a Princess Heart: In a Not so Fairy Tale World". Blessings had the companion guide to the book, but not the book, so I looked it up at www.christianbook.com today on my coffee break. Here is the description given:

"Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. Every little girl grew up hearing the stories of "happily ever after" but is that the world in which she exists today? Keeping a Princess Heart is a deeply thoughtful exploration into the tension of the two worlds in which a woman lives - her dream world and the real one. Discover how to apply scriptural truths to help reconcile the ideal life with reality. You will be encouraged to laugh at yourself as you take a deep trusting dive into the wonderful world of fairy tale to find the hope to reclaim your hidden treasure: a princess heart."

That sounded interesting, so I went on to read the reviews. Here is an excerpt:

"Gifted author and actress Nicole Johnson explains that the secret to Keeping A Princess Heart is for women to put their faith in Christ, who knows and bestows the deepest desires of their heart:
(1) Recognition (the desire to be recognized)
(2) Adoration (the desire to be loved)
(3) Consolation (the desire to know that all will be well)

Understanding and addressing these wishes will help women discover their Princess Heart. Validating these desires will help the men in their lives help restore the girlish innocence needed to approach the throne of grace. When a woman puts her trust in Christ she will be able to transcend the world’s shallow aspirations of life and discover her untainted heart of wonder, joy, and love. Keeping A Princess Heart grants every woman her fairy tale ending by accepting the hand of her own Prince...of Peace."

I hope that doesn't sound too hoakey to you. It actually sounds a bit refreshing to me... with all the pressures in this world and (as I posted a few days ago) my heart really wanting to be at home... You see, my personality is somewhat of an idealist (enfj)...so I tend to see the world the way it should be rather than the way it is, and reconciling the two can be very discouraging to me. Thankfully, God's love is relentless and tender, and he has given me a husband who is the fulfillment of so many of my dreams. Still, life can sometimes be...well...not quite a 'fairy-tale'...some days the world's realities try to crush my heart, but they will not win. I don't know whether I will get this book or not, I want to finish reading my "Ragamuffin Gospel" first, but I felt encouraged today just reading the review.

What We Hope For
words and music by Carolyn Arends and Connie Harrington

I remember waiting up till it got dark
Searching till I found the brightest star
Making my wish with all my heart
But we grow up and so do all our dreams
Somehow without us even noticing
We set our sights on lesser things
Oh, to go back when we still believed

That what we hope for
Is not too much to ask for
And what we pray for
Isn’t nearly big enough
‘Cause what we dream of
Cannot compare to God’s love
And what He wants for us is so much more
More than what we hope for

We start out so innocent and wise
Before we cut the world down to our size
We still have that wonder in our eyes
So maybe that’s why Jesus said to come
With the faith we had when we were young
Trusting in a world beyond this one
Letting our imaginations run

‘Cause what we hope for
Is not too much to ask for
And what we pray for
Isn’t nearly big enough
What we dream of
Cannot compare to God’s love
And what He wants for us is so much more
More than what we hope for
More than what we hope for

Good news...Jackie is back to the world of blogging! ...and the first thing that I learned when she returned is that I've been spelling her last name wrong (should be Reimche)...sorry. Welcome back!

I have the best husband, have I mentioned that?! Last night he took me for a walk by the river. It was so beautiful! I love walking and holding his hand. We don't get down by the river as often as we did when we were dating, so this was a treat! I love it when we get to spend time together...just 'be'ing:) Every day I fall more and more in love with the man God gave me! I'm so thankful for his strength, his compassion, his character, his love:)

Well tomorrow is back to work for me. I've had the last week off. I haven't really 'done' anything...well I've done things, but normal, routine things...yard work, housework, groceries, cooking, baking...mostly spending time with/taking care of Amanda. Les worked evenings pretty much the whole week. That's actually why I picked this particular week to be off...because if I'm working days and he's working evenings all week, we don't see each other. At least this meant we got to see each other each day. I'm trying to enjoy my last day...not rush it. So far I've done my workout and a bunch of laundry...exciting, I know!

Yesterday, after picking up some groceries, we went for a drive and saw some new houses. All that did (and all that ever does, for me) is make me love our home more. They say that 'home is where the heart is'...my heart is so at home, it's hard to think about going back to work again. I know all will be well though, just am praying that I don't get swept away by pressures right away.

One sweet little jewel God gave me this week came on Saturday. I had asked Les if we could leave early for Church on Saturday and stop by Blessings. It had been so long since I'd had a chance to take a look there. I used to be in bookstores and buying books or music quite regularly...now, it's a very special treat to go and look, and God had an extra jewel for me there on Saturday. I've been wanting Brennan Manning's 'Ragamuffin Gospel' for quite some time, and I found it in the used books along with a daily devotional, also by Manning. The combined price of the two books was less than either one of them would have been new. I haven't had much time to read yet, but I have cracked the spines and am enjoying what I see. God is so good to us:)