So I took another one of the quizzes on the net....

...and my husband is going to like the result:)

I'm a Porsche Boxster!

You're stylish, nimble, and good-looking. When it comes to having fun, there are few who can surpass you. And yet, you suffer from a lingering inferiority complex. Maybe it's because you have an older relative who is always in thelimelight?

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

All I Ever Have to Be
Amy Grant

When the weight of all my dreams
Is resting heavy on my head,
And the thoughtful words of health and hope
Have all been nicely said.

But I’m still hurting,
Wondering if I’ll ever be
The one I think I am.

I think I am.

Then you gently re-remind me
That you’ve made me from the first,
And the more I try to be the best
The more I get the worst.

And I realize the good in me,
Is only there because of who you are.

Who you are...

And all I ever have to be
Is what you’ve made me.
Any more or less would be a step
Out of your plan.

As you daily recreate me,
Help me always keep in mind
That I only have to do
What I can find.

And all I ever have to be
All I have to be
All I ever have to be
Is what you’ve made me.

Election

With the election fast approaching, like many of you I've been following the news...and this story just makes me ill!

'Walk The Line' Scores Big At Golden Globes

Apparently the movie and it's two stars all won big last night - well deserved in my opinion!

Quote from an old Franciscan:

If you feel the call of the spirit, then be holy with all your soul, with all your heart, and with all your strength. If, however, because of human weakness, you cannot be holy, then be perfect with all your soul, with all your heart, and with all your strength.

But if you cannot be perfect because of the vanity of your life, then be good with all your soul.... Yet, if you cannot be good because of the trickery of the Evil One, then be wise with all your soul....

If, in the end, you can neither be holy, nor perfect, nor good, nor wise because of the weight of your sins, then carry this weight before God and surrender your life to his divine mercy.

If you do this, without bitterness, with all humility, and with a joyous spirit due to the tenderness of a God who loves the sinful and ungrateful, then you will begin to feel what it is to be wise, you will learn what it is to be good, you will slowly aspire to be perfect, and finally you will long to be holy.

Quoted in Peter van Breeman, Let All God's Glory Through

My Heritage

A couple of the blogs I visit have talked about myheritage.com. You upload a picture of yourself on their website and they tell you what celebrity you look like. So I tried it...I think most of the responses they give you have to do with the angle of your face in the picture and its similarity to a celebrity's in a picture. The first scan I did was of me in our family picture from this fall. My Heritage thought I looked like Hilary Duff (Amanda would be so proud!), Audrey Hepburn, Sharon Stone and Kirsten Dunst. Interesting, but I doubt I look like any of these people...and if I'm not mistaken, I don't think they look much like each other either. So I tried it again, this time with a recent picture of me alone. My Heritage thought I looked like Nicole Kidman, Janet Leigh, Shania Twain and Keira Knightly...bizarre?! So I tried one last time using a wedding photo...this time it said Isabella Roselini, Sharon Stone, Janet Leigh, Keira Knightly and Shania Twain?!

So the names that came up most often were: Sharon Stone, Keira Knightly (she did portray Elizabeth Bennett in P&P this fall, so in that one way I identify with her:), Janet Leigh and Shania Twain (actually, someone in my small group once said I looked like her if you can imagine?!) In reality, I look like me...and that's ok, but the My Heritage site was a fun diversion:) Who do YOU look like?

Starbucks

I'm going to have to admit it, I love Starbucks! I was once one of those people who scoffed at paying $4 for a coffee, and now I find myself in the line of people who pay that a couple of times a week...(and even more often on occasion).

It started off innocently enough... As we walked the chilly streets of Edmonton shuffling between venues for Breakforth last year, we ducked into Starbucks for something to warm us up for our walk. It was then that Les bought me my first caramel macchiato. Deep inside it was a guilty pleasure for me as I was sure that it couldn't be good for me. So, in the beginning, it was something we reserved for once in a while as a treat. But then a few months later in Saskatoon, I found myself in the Starbucks drive-thru craving another treat. This time before I ordered I asked for the nutrition information, and found out that, for the most part, it was actually good for me. Then later at home, I even logged on to their website where I learned the freedom of ordering things 'my way' - and that in doing so I could make 'my drink' even better for me (I now order it 'no fat and no sugar' please).

This fall, a weekly trip to Starbucks became a bit of an oasis for me on Thursdays when Amanda went to dancing. I would sit and sip instead of rush and run for a whole hour on Thursdays. If Les wasn't working, we have some 'us' time, and if he was, well, I'd take a book or a magazine along and have some 'me' time.

Starbucks has also come to be a stress releasor for me when I'm having a tough day at work. There have been a few too many of those in the last few months, and so that brings me today...the second day of the week...and the second lunchtime Starbucks run for the week as well. At this rate I think I'm might end up over my limit this week... (shhhh, no one needs to know, right?!)

10 Things I love about Starbucks:
1. Caramel macchiato's (no fat and no sugar please)
2. The friendly people who serve me actually seem to like their job and are happy.
3. Biscotti (they're actually pretty low carb-wise!...who knew?!)
4. Free treats from time to time:)
5. I've gotten to know many of the staff, and several of them actually start making 'my drink' when I walk in (before I've even ordered).
6. That pink cup and saucer they have on display for Valentine's (there is even a heart indentation in the saucer that craddles the cup perfectly...oh how it taunts me!)
7. Stress relief! (Somehow drinking a Starbucks helps me remember Matt7 in a way)
8. They sell all the ingredients too - so I can make Les and I treats at home! (and they are very generous about sharing their recipes!!)
9. There is something just SO right about how they DO Christmas there!
10. It's more than coffee, it's an experience~!

Today as I drove there and back, here's the song I had blaring in the cd player...

Takes a Little Time

It takes a little time sometimes
To get your feet back on the ground
It takes a little time sometimes
To get the Titanic turned back around
It takes a little time sometimes
But baby you're not going down
It takes more than you've got right now
Give it, give it time

What's this walking through my door
I know I've seen the look before
Sometimes on faces in the street
And sometimes in the mirror looking back at me
You can't fix this pain with money
You can't rush a weary soul
You can't sweep it under the rug now honey
But it don't take a lot to know

[Chorus]

Well it may not be over by morning
But Rome wasn't built in a day
You can name that thing a thousand times
And It won't make it go away
Let me put my arms around you
And hold you while you weep
We've been talking and you know what, I'm sick of this talk
And it's nothing that won't keep

[Chorus]

You can't fix this pain with money
You can't rush a weary soul
You can't sweep it under the rug now honey
But it don't take a lot to know

[Chorus]

Walk the Line

This was one of the best movies I've ever seen!! Les took me to it for New Year's, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it! Even now, days later, we still find ourselves discussing it. The acting was superb, and I saw so much redemption and grace in the story...I'd highly recommend seeing it if you haven't:)

Here's a link to a review that closely matches what I thought.

My Tween!

My daughter is definitely a 'tween' these days.

Exhibit #1
I never thought I'd see the day when she would sleep past 8 a.m. on a weekend, but pretty much this whole Christmas vacation she's been sleeping until between 9 and 10 (much to my delight:) Anyway on Monday evening when I was reminding her that she had an eye appointment on Tuesday at 9:30 she looked at me shocked and said, "In the MORNING?!! HOW early do I HAVE to get up for that?!"

Exhibit #2
After Amanda's eye appointment yesterday we popped into Walmart since it was close by. As we were finishing getting what we had came for Amanda asked if she could look at clothes. I said that we could LOOK. She showed me outfit after outfit, looking up at me OVER her glasses saying "Ooh, isn't this nice?!" about each one. My response was usually something like, "Yes that's very nice." "OOH!" she'd say, "It's even on SALE!" To which I responded that we weren't getting one. "But WHY?" she'd demand. "Because you just got a whole bunch of clothes for Christmas and on Boxing day, and you don't have a spare hanger in your closet." She'd then give me the sad eyes begging look. "Oh, but what about this one," she said showing me a very trendy shirt on sale for all of $7. To which I said, "Amanda, you know Daddy would kill me if I brought another new shirt home for you today. He said 'no more' for a while."

Then as we walked away together, Amanda looked up OVER her glasses at me one last time and said "Well SURELY you wouldn't DIE!"

Merry Christmas!

I meant to post that wish before the first day of Christmas arrived, but it's now the third day of Christmas, and well, it's just as heartfelt.

I don't like it when people say that Christmas is over after the gifts are opened on Christmas Day or after the turkey's been eaten...so humor me as I let Christmas linger. It's been hard to let go of my other concerns (largely work) and enjoy the days, but I've been trying:)

On Christmas Eve, we attended services at Emmanuel Baptist Church where Amanda danced with the worship dancers. It was a wonderful service aimed at families highlighting the 'real star of Christmas'. After that we had family back to our house, ate appetizers, visited and exchanged some gifts. And for the second year in a row, my sister is in town for Christmas, which is a treat!

Les had to work Christmas day, so I arose with him before six that morning and saw him off. After a quiet breakfast, I read a devotion and snuck downstairs to play some carols quietly on the piano, then I came back up and made a pot of tea and read some Brennan Manning by the Christmas tree lights. Amanda soon arose and opened her stocking. The two us then did our tradition of lighting the advent candles and the Christ candle while singing carols and read our advent stories of His birth.

The rest of the day went by at a much quicker pace with a turkey to prepare and families to host. Les got home from work around 2 p.m. and we had a bit of family time around the tree before both Les' family and my own joined us.

The feast was wonderful, with too much food of course, and a highlight of the turkey platter being toppled right after dinner before dessert was served...so due to broken glass, no turkey leftovers were to had this year, but a fun memory nevertheless.

Pictures were taken, games were played, laughing happened. It was a good day!

The Brophy's

There You Are
written by Carolyn Arends

I was hoping you would write to me a message in the stars
As if the stars themselves were not enough
And I awaited your arrival here from some place very far
As if I couldn't feel your constant touch
Why did I think that you'd send thunder
To wake me from my slumber
When anytime I open up my eyes

Chorus:
There you are - loving me like crazy
There you are - though I am unaware
There you are - when my heart is doubting
Even there you are

I was waiting for a miracle and hoping for a sign
As if each breath I take is not a gift
And I was acting just as if the way you gave your life for mine
Didn't have my foolish heart convinced
What did I think could cause this hunger
Did I ever stop to wonder
Why every time I open my eyes

Repeat chorus

I was hoping you would write to me a message in the stars
As if the stars themselves were not enough

(C) 1997 running arends music/New Spring Publishing, a division of Brentwood Music
Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP)

Well, I had a fabulous weekend and a less than fabulous return to work on Monday.....so I will focus on the weekend right now...

Les and I finished up most of our Christmas shopping on Friday...just a few more gifts to buy...and then he took me out on a date for the evening! We went to Earls for supper where I had my favourite, the bento box and a glass of this yummy gwertraminer. I was on track eating wise until we decided to share gingerbread cake for dessert...oh well, it only happens one time a year, right?! After a wonderful meal, Les took me to see Pride and Prejudice. It was truly wonderful! Of course, they took some liberties in making the film...but how else could they have fit my favourite work of fiction into just two hours?! I think they captured the story and characters well though. Afterward we headed out to Starbucks for coffees...the perfect way to complete a great date I'd say!

Saturday we did some things around the house and got most of our Christmas wrapping done and then we headed to the Saskatoon Inn for my company's Christmas Party. I have to confess that I really am not much for company Christmas parties. I actually find it a lot of work to socialize in that venue. It seems people are focused on image and impressing others and people don't truly mingle beyond their workgroups much. So I find it really hard to relax in such a mix and while I do always enjoy visiting with some people, I'm usually relieved when it is over. The one bright point this year though was seeing my handsome hubby in his new suit:)

On Sunday we did some housework and some running around, and we did manage to fit another trip to Starbucks in before we went to visit the in-laws...gotta like that!

Les had this weekend off and it was just so great to get to do so many things together. I loved it and wish it didn't have to end:)

Seven Things About Various Things I Was Asked to Tell You About

Seven things to do before I die:
1. Have a baby.
2. Paris in the springtime!
3. Honeymoon in Ireland (we're still going, right?!:)
4. Learn to skate.
5. Retire from ever having to do accounting again!
6. Finish what I started on the ministry track.
7. Love my husband and children higher and wider and deeper than I even think is possible.

Seven things I cannot do:
1. Hide my feelings (or at least, I can't do this very well)
2. Ski (I've never learned and Les doesn't want to)
3. Sleep if I haven't brushed my teeth and washed my face before bed
4. Touch my nose with my tongue.
5. Not take things personal

From You've Got Mail:
(Joe Fox) "It wasn't... personal."
(Kathleen Kelly) "What is that supposed to
mean? I am so sick of that. All that means is that it wasn't personal to you.
But it was personal to me. It's *personal* to a lot of people. And what's so
wrong with being personal, anyway?"
(Joe Fox) "Uh, nothing."
(Kathleen Kelly) "Whatever else
anything is, it ought to begin by being
personal."

6. Reach the top shelf in our kitchen cupboards (without a chair).
7. Watch any sort of surgery (I have to turn my face away even when Les is just flipping the channel past 27 some nights!)

Seven things that attract me to my spouse:
1. His affection and affirmation.
2. His sense of humor.
3. His creativity.
4. His heart.
5. His shoulders (and all kinds of other parts;)
6. His strength.
7. His touch and his gaze:)

Seven things I say most often:
1. Worst case scenario...(Les says this is how I relieve stress, by planning around it?! eg. 'well, worst case scenario, the meeting will run late, but I'll make sure I'm home by 5.')
2. Good grief (I think I caught this one from my friend, Alana!)
3. Drive safely.
4. Bye (even when just leaving the room for a few minutes)
5. What are you thinking?
6. As if!
7. I don't think so.

Seven books I love:
1. The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
2. Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen
3. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin
4. Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis & John Eldridge
5. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
6. Beyond Ourselves by Catherine Marshall
7. Living the Questions by Carolyn Arends

Seven movies I would watch over and over again:
1. The Mirror Has Two Faces
2. You've Got Mail
3. Pride & Prejudice (BBC Production)
4. While You Were Sleeping
5. Bridget Jones
6. A Beautiful Mind
7. Gidget

Seven people I want to join in too:
Anyone who reads this...and especially anyone I link to on this blog:)

Guess What I Found on the Newstand Tonight?!

Someone I know is now famous!!

Les' Eve

Tomorrow is the birthday of the most handsome, caring, creative, brilliant man I know...the one my heart loves! Happy birthday Les!! I love you more than words can say and am so proud to be your wife:)

Yes, I know, I'm way behind in updating this thing. I know you don't want excuses, but things have been hectic. I only have a minute here, so I'll just update you on the two most notable things on my heart:

Firstly, last week, Les was injured in a bit of a mishap that I don't have time to describe here, but the outcome was a fractured rib, a buckled rib, some nasty bruises and an wound that bled into his abdominal cavity. He's been in quite of a bit of pain ever since, so if you'd pray for my sweet man, I'd so appreciate it. Today he does seem to be feeling some relief - although he still has a ways to go.

Secondly, despite his injuries, Les insisted on taking me to the Brian Doerksen worship concert on the weekend, and it was amazing! I learn a lot worshipping with him:)

"The splendor of a human heart which trusts that it is loved gives God more pleasure than Westminster Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, the sight of ten thousand butterflies in flight, or the scent of a million orchids in bloom."
Brennan Manning

English Tea Lyrics
(Paul McCartney)


Would you care to sit with me
For a cup of English tea
Very twee, very me
Any sunny morning

What a pleasure it would be
Chatting so delightfully
Nanny bakes, fairy cakes
Every Sunday morning

Miles of miles of English garden, stretching past the willow tree
Lines of hollyhocks and roses, listen most attentively

Do you know the game crochet
Peradventure we might play
Very gay, hip hooray
Any sunny morning

(solo)

Miles of miles of English garden, stretching past the willow tree
Lines of hollyhocks and roses, listen most attentively

As a rule the church bells chime
When it's almost supper time
Nanny bakes fairy cakes
On a Sunday morning

Brian Doerksen in Concert

Les called me at work today with wonderful news. He has another date planned for November 25th. We just barely finished one date and already there is another one on the horizon?! (I'm liking this!!) Apparently Brian Doerksen is playing Saskatoon on the 25th and Les has gotten us tickets! Brian is a sincere heart, a husband and a father with a heart for The Father. Les had encountered him personally when he lived in B.C., and we both enjoyed worshipping with him last year at Breakforth. He is a talented worship leader and muscian and a tremendous songwriter. I'm SO looking forward to the 25th!