Remembering God's Faithfulness



Thirteen Ways God Has Been So Faithful to Me...

I'm waiting to see what's next for me and so I thought it would be good to remember ways that God has been faithful to me in the past...

1. I was single a few years longer than I had hoped (ok, more than a few!), but then God brought me His man for me and he has SO been worth the wait!

2. When Les and I were first dating, we lived in different cities, 1000 miles apart, but God broke through all the obstacles and we ended up here together.

3. I believe that God always intended me to be Amanda's mom...and how he brought us together and the bond there is between us still amazes me! Les and I got married in November 2002, and Amanda came to live with us in December of that year, and three short months later she chose to start calling me 'Mommy':) Only God could do that!

4. In the summer of 1998, God healed me of a private health issue. As I look back I'd like to think it had something to do with a step of obedience I was taking, but in truth, I hadn't really accomplished much in that area when He did it. It really was His grace (and not anything I did).

5. In the late 1990's when I was working in a high-paced pressured environment where everyone was fighting to gain more, God impressed upon me that I didn't need more, I needed Him and He made a way for me to cut back so I could serve Him...and the bills all still got paid.

6. When we were selling the condo I had lived in when I was single and trying to buy this house for our family, and we thought we'd loose our deal on the house because the original buyer of the condo fell through, God made a way for us to get into the house before our daughter joined us so she would have a home...and the deal didn't cost more money!

7. In the home I grew up in there were some things that happened that I don't want to talk about here, but I just know that God's hand was on me and somehow through everything I always knew He loved me, so I was ok.

8. When I lived in Regina and wanted to move back to Saskatoon and prayed for a transfer, there was a point at which it seemed that all the doors had been closed and I went off by myself I guess to cry and in that moment God gave me an assurance that it wasn't over. Shortly after that I got the transfer I had been hoping for.

9. In 2000 when an extreme situation at work became so bad that I was breaking out in hives, God taught me about boundaries and I learned to say 'no' sometimes.

10. Now people weren't used to me having boundaries so sometimes they didn't respect them...and that's when God provided me with another opportunity.

11. Last fall, during the busiest period of the year for me at work, two of my staff ended up off with serious ailments, and my staff and I were all spread more than a little thin, but God gave me what I needed to fill the holes and somehow we got everything done and done well in time for the audit.

12. I met my friend, Alana, through a nudging from God to pray for her and I saw Him do a miracle in her...the fluid around her heart disappeared by the next test and I saw her come back from a very difficult place. And through this experience I have gained such a precious friend who has been a big sister to me:)

13. More than a year ago, I scraped the front bumper of the car in a parking lot, and, well, it's a long story, but let's just say that it was my fault, but yet my husband was so gracious to me. I was so guilt ridden and I prayed and prayed for forgiveness and tried to make things right and not only did I experience God's forgiveness, but he put flesh on it through my husband and showered His grace on me and the whole situation.

I remember shortly before Les came into my life, He gave me this verse as I waited..."He'll turn your waiting into dancing." I had always heard that translated before as 'mourning into dancing,' but this translation spoke something new into my heart...and God more than fulfilled that. Right now, I'm waiting for a new opportunity...and doing what I can while I wait...so it's good to remember how He's turned waiting into dancing before:) (Your prayers are always welcome too!)




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Oh The Irony!!

This morning as I was eating my breakfast before my bike ride, I was flipping through the stations when I caught a bit of Monty Python's Flying Circus. I don't think I would have paused there, but they were talking about 'chartered accountancy', and the sketch was rich with irony for me (you see, I am a chartered accountant.)

Vocational Guidance counselor
As featured in the Flying Circus TV Show - Episode 10

The sketch:
(As the sketch open Voices can be heard singing Vocational guidance counselor ... vocational guidance counselor ... vocational guidance counselor ... etc. Office set. Man sitting at desk. Mr Anchovy is standing waiting. The counselor looks at his watch then starts the sketch.)

counselor: Ah Mr Anchovy. Do sit down.

Anchovy: Thank you. Take the weight off the feet, eh?

counselor:: Yes, yes.

Anchovy: Lovely weather for the time of year, I must say.

counselor: Enough of this gay banter. And now Mr Anchovy, you asked us to advise you which job in life you were best suited for.

Anchovy: That is correct, yes.

counselor: Well I now have the results here of the interviews and the aptitude tests that you took last week, and from them we've built up a pretty clear picture of the sort of person that you are. And 1 think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that the ideal job for you is chartered accountancy.

Anchovy: But I am a chartered accountant.

counselor: Jolly good. Well back to the office with you then.

Anchovy: No! No! No! You don't understand. I've been a chartered accountant for the last twenty years. I want a new job. Something exciting that will let me live.

counselor: Well chartered accountancy is rather exciting isn't it?

Anchovy: Exciting? No it's not. It's dull. Dull. Dull. My goodness it's dull, it's so desperately dull and tedious and stuffy and boring and des-per-ate-ly DULL.

counselor: Well, er, yes Mr Anchovy, but you see your report here says that you are an extremely dull person. You see, our experts describe you as an appallingly dull fellow, unimaginative, timid, lacking in initiative, spineless, easily dominated, no sense of humour, tedious company and irrepressibly drab and awful. And w/hereas in most professions these would be considerable drawbacks, in chartered accountancy they are a positive boon.

Anchovy: But don't you see, I came here to find a new job, a new life, a new meaning to my existence. Can't you help me?

counselor: Well, do you have any idea of what you want to do?

Anchovy: Yes, yes I have.

counselor: What?

Anchovy: (boldly) Lion taming.

counselor: Well yes. Yes. Of course, it's a bit of a jump isn't it? I mean, er, chartered accountancy to lion taming in one go. You don't think it might be better if you worked your way towards lion taming, say, via banking'...

Anchovy: No, no, no, no. No. I don't want to wait. At nine o'clock tomorrow I want to be in there, taming.

counselor: Fine, fine. But do you, do you have any qualifications?

Anchovy: Yes, I've got a hat.

counselor: A hat?

Anchovy: 'Yes, a hat. A lion taming hat. A hat with 'lion tamer' on it. I got it at Harrods. And it lights up saying 'lion tamer' in great big neon letters, so that you can tame them after dark when they're less stroppy.

counselor: I see, I see.

Anchovy: And you can switch it off during the day time, and claim reasonable wear and tear as allowable professional expenses under paragraph 335C...

counselor: Yes, yes, yes, I do follow, Mr Anchovy, but you see the snag is... if I now call Mr Chipperfield and say to him, 'look here, I've got a forty-five-year-old chartered accountant with me who wants to become a lion tamer', his first question is not going to be 'does he have his own hat?' He's going to ask what sort of experience you've had with lions.

Anchovy: Well I ... I've seen them at the zoo.

counselor: Good, good, good.

Anchovy: Lively brown furry things with short stumpy legs and great long noses. I don't know what all the fuss is about, I could tame one of those. They look pretty tame to start with.

counselor: And these, er, these lions ... how high are they?

Anchovy: (indicating a height of one foot) Well they're about so high, you know. They don't frighten me at all.

counselor: Really. And do these lions eat ants?

Anchovy: Yes, that's right.

counselor: Er, well, Mr Anchovy ... I'm afraid what you've got hold of there is an anteater.

Anchovy: A what?

counselor: An anteater. Not a lion. You see a lion is a huge savage beast, about five feet high, ten feet long, weighing about four hundred pounds, running forty miles per hour, with masses of sharp pointed teeth and nasty long razor-sharp claws that can rip your belly open before you can say 'Eric Robinson', and they look like this.

(The counselor produces large picture of a lion and shows to Mr Anchovy who screams and passes out.)

(Mr Anchovy sits up with a start.)

counselor: Now, shall I call Mr Chipperfield?

Anchovy: Er, no, no, no. I think your idea of making the transition to lion taming via easy stages, say via insurance...

counselor: Or banking.

Anchovy: Or banking, yes, yes, banking that's a man's life, isn't it? Banking, travel, excitement, adventure, thrills, decisions affecting people's lives.

counselor: Jolly good, well, er, shall I put you in touch with a bank?

Anchovy: Yes.

counselor: Fine.

Anchovy: Er... no, no, no. Look, er, it's a big decision, I'd like a couple of weeks to think about it... er... you know, don't want to jump into it too quickly. Maybe three weeks. I could let you know definitely then, I just don't want to make this definite decision. I'm er... (continues muttering nervously to himsel)

counselor: (turning to camera) Well this is just one of the all too many cases on our books of chartered accountancy. The only way that we can fight this terrible debilitating social disease, is by informing the general public of its consequences, by showing young people that it's just not worth it. So, so please... give generously... to this address:

The League for Fighting Chartered Accountancy,
55 Lincoln House, Basil Street,
London, SW3.

Thirteen Things that have happened or will happen this week...

1. My friend Charolette, from our small group, is getting married on Saturday!

2. My daughter's birth-mother is in town for a visit (just a bit-o-stress there, but it's going pretty good)

3. My friend Lynn is due to have her baby on the 24th...so it could happen this week!

4. Les and I tried to go to the Taste of Saskatchewan last night...crowds were enormous and parking was not to be found.

5. So we will likely go mid-afternoon on Friday.

6. I got a new suit that Les says follows Stacy and Clinton's rules!

7. I didn't want to spend the money on this even though it was quite reasonable and needed for any potential interviews, but my husband insisted!

8. I learned that an opportunity I was hoping would work out won't:( ...already filled.

9. I've had a little extra time alone with my hubby while Amanda's been visiting with #2.

10. We've gone to Starbucks!!

11. I'm really hoping and a bit anxious to receive some sort of offer/opportunity soon.

12. I'm more convinced than ever that I couldn't stay where I was.

13. I helped them create an ad for my position.

(Keep me in your prayers if you lean that way, k?! ...Thanks!)




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Seen on a dressing room mirror tonight....

Tonight while Amanda was at VBS, Les and I did some shopping, and at one of the stops I was in a dressing room trying on a few skirts when I looked at myself in the mirror while half-naked only to find that I had been framed in it with an antique gold border and the following words written in the upper left-hand corner of the mirror..."My body is a masterpiece." ...Well, that certainly made me smile:)

The store I was in was called 'Addition-elle', and it's one of the better names for a 'plus-sized' clothing store...but it still has a name that denotes that it's for someone 'bigger' (or additional in size). I've gotten used to it, but often wonder why these stores can't just have normal names like small size focused stores? For instance, when I'm in Cotton Ginny they don't call the side of the store geared toward 'smaller' built people 'skinny-ginny', but they do call the side of the store that I shop in 'plus'?! I guess it's because of messages like this that the sign in the dressing room tonight really impacted me in a good way:) So remember, regardless of which side you shop in...you're body is a masterpiece too!!

Thirteen Things I'm Feeling/Thinking These Days...

So this has been a pretty earth-shaking week for me (which explains the lack of posts)...so here's what I'm feeling/thinking about it all..

1. I'm feeling relieved.

2. I feel some peace.

3. I was brave.

4. But yet I still have moments of nervousness and also moments of anxiousness about what's next.

5. But even so, it's better than what I felt last week and there is a peace.

6. I feel loved...by God and certainly by my husband and various family and friends.

7. I have a soft place to fall.

8. I feel affirmed by my husband, inlaws and several friends who I've shared with...and by unexpected sources too... (And for the first time in my life, I think, I heard my mom say they would pray for me.)

9. I have value.

10. I don't want to wait for what's next...somehow I want to know what they next thing is and have that security, but I have to wait and see (all the while, I'm working on it too, you know.)

11. I'm reminded of my post a few weeks back (June 4, 2006) about fluffed up dead rabbits and taking risks...

It sounds like a fluffed-up dead rabbit to me. All over North America people remain in jobs they hate so they can buy stuff they don’t need to impress people who don’t care.
God created you for so much more than that. Could it be time for you to take a deep breath and really live again? Take some risks. God's plan for your life was never about being propped up in a cage.

12. I've been meditating on the words to this song this morning...the words bring tears and hope.

13. I'm going to be ok (I think) ...the feelings aren't as certain yet...there is a peace amid the anxiousness though.

Please keep me in your prayers:)



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Thirteen Things I'm Loving Doing this Summer!

Work is continuing to be so stressful, so I decided to purposely focus this Thursday Thirteen on the things we've been enjoying doing in the beautiful weather to de-stress:

1. Bike riding! I especially love going out and exploring early in the morning on the weekend (and if my hubby can join me, all the better!)

2. Walks by the river:)

3. Light mocha frappucinos at Starbucks after the aformentioned walks;)

4. Tending to my flowers:)

5. Enjoying some tea and a devotional on the deck!

6. Going for a country drive (we went to the Berry Barn a couple of weeks ago:)

7. Walks around the neibourhood.

8. Cruising with my sweetie in the PT (even if it is only to go and groceries tonight!)

9. Earl's patio (if you can get in?!! ..ok, so we haven't gotten in yet, but we will!)

10. Bar-b-quing!

11. Visiting the new dry pond in one of the parks nearby, sitting on the bench and enjoying each other and the children playing aorund us:)

12. Enjoying the deck (after all our hardwork painting it) with my hubby and some homemade iced tea after he's done work on the weekends.

13. The sun on my face, wherever I am (especially after a hard day at work while I'm coming home!)




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Can You Believe It?!!

This weekend I heard about a group that may file a lawsuit against Starbucks?!! Their grounds would be that some of the food/drinks they serve are high fat/calorie (I believe this group was targetting KFC first?). Now, I am just in shock about the idea of this lawsuit because I've been someone who has had to watch what she eats her whole life and I have never been anywhere where the people have been more accommodating in terms of providing nurtrition information on what they serve and in terms of suggesting alternatives to bring a drink in line with the carb, fat and calorie goals I have. It's one of the reasons I *LOVE* Starbucks so much, I can order my caramel macchiato with no fat and no sugar and it STILL tastes great! (and it isn't full of aspartame or artificial fats!) So I'm hoping this is just a vicious rumour that was misheard. I *LOVE* Starbucks! :)

Who'd a thunk it... I AM - Wonder Woman !!

Wonder Woman 75% Superman 60% Spider-Man 55% Green Lantern 55% Robin 52% Supergirl 50% Catwoman 40% Batman 35% The Flash 35% Iron Man 35% Hulk 20%

You are a beautiful princess with great strength of character.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

Thirteen ways I was spoiled for my bday last weekend:

1. For the first time since we've been married, my hubby and I both had my bday off:)

2. My inlaws had us for a bday supper the night before (FIL even made his special garlic shrimp) and kept our daughter overnight so we could go out on my bday:)

3. Les took me to dinner at the Granary:)

4. And it was lobsterfest...so I had lobster:) (...and some particularly good wine:)

5. And afterward we went to the movies and saw a romantic comedy:)

6. And we had not one, but TWO trips to Starbucks that day (one in the afternoon and then a nightcap after the movie:)

7. Speaking of Starbucks, at work on the day before my bday, my staff surprised me with a grande caramel macchiato (no fat and sugar free) at coffee break:)

8. I still can't believe they remembered exactly how I like it:)

9. They got me a piece of banana loaf with it (and I ate it...thus breaking my carb limit in a 2 hour window:( ...but it tasted good:)

10. I broke my eating plan a couple of other times on my bday weekend, like on the morning of my bday when my husband served me breakfast...a cinnamon bun fresh from the bakery...YUM! (Someone said that the calories and carbs don't count if it's your bday, right?!!) ...anyway I'm trying to be extra good now this week..

11. My darling daughter gave me the most beautiful card...the sentiment of which was that no matter what she's sure of two things: God's presence and my love (I'm so GLAD she is secure in that:) ...she also gave me the Busy Mom's Guide to Prayer which she had seen me look at once (very thoughtful of her to remember that:) ...I'm SO looking forward to using it:)

12. My in-laws gave me a "Classic Goddess Pedicure" from my favourite day-spa! I wonder what a "Classic Goddess Pedicure" involves?!! (I know about the pedicure part...but the name of this one sounds so indulgent?!!:)

13. My husband gave me an amazing card and thoughtful gifts as well and totally doted on me all weekend! Boy do I love that MAN! :)




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We have such a cool small group...

Last night we were supposed to finish the study we've been working on at small group. Last night was also the Stanley Cup final. It was going to be hard to miss it and go to small group (especially for my hubby), but that was the right thing to do...so imagine our surprise when we got to the group and the game was on?! So we didn't get the study done...but we did have a great time together followed with some prayer...we have such a cool small group:)

Today is the fourth anniversary of when my handsome hubby first kissed me. It came one day after my birthday:) And in the days and weeks and months and years since then I have grown more and more in love with him! Today I celebrate my genius of a husband, the husband that he is, the father that he is...and of course, that first kiss:)

Thirteen reasons I haven't posted since last week's Thursday Thirteen:

1. I tried to milk the weekend for all it was worth as I wasn't looking forward to going back to work on Monday.
2. When I went back to work, in addition to the pressure and stress I had expected, there were unexpected 'surprises'.
3. One of my staff is off on an extended sick leave again.
4. I can't hire a temporary person to fill in as we just have week to week notification from this staff member's doctor...as we have to keep her job open for her.
5. I'm hoping she gets better very quickly, but based on the reports I heard along with my own brief encounter with her, I suspect it will take much longer. (She is, of course, in my prayers)
6. So all my staff, who were already strained, are being pushed even further. (They are in my prayers too!)
7. And there were quite a number of things added to my plate to cover as well this week...only there really wasn't room on my plate for them...
8. And apparently, last week, in my absense, the big boss made life pretty difficult for several of my staff.
9. Turns out he made it difficult for staff in other departments too.
10. And now they are not motivated to do extra to meet with these challenges. (And I've been trying my best to encourage and motivate them.)
11. As a result of the staff out on leave and this motivation issue, not as much progress has been made on a big project that the big boss is focused on. (We're fighting fires people!)
12. I'm afraid of his reaction when he returns on Monday...even though I've done my best...unfortunately it is out my control and I can only do what I can do.
13. Last night when I did have some time to myself, I spent it outside with a cup of tea and my Bible talking to God about this all. I'm not 100% certain of His will on this, but I am 100% certain of His love and of how faithful He has been to me. So if you think of me, send up a prayer or two...thx:)



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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Thirteen Good Thoughts about Our Trip to Starbucks on Wednesday:

As I mentioned in my last post, Les and I have a few days off together this week. We're not going anywhere, just getting things done around the yard and spending some time together, but we have made allowances to take a few trips to Starbucks together this week, so here are some good things about Wednesday's trip...

1. As we worked in our yard in the morning and early afternoon, planting trees and painting the deck floor, the thought of going to Starbucks when we were finished was great motivation!
2. When we got there one of the Barista's, who was on her break outside, got up and walked toward us to tell us that the other day when we had popped by and found that that they were temporarily closed due to a pipe break, that they were still able to take business by the drive-thur and that when she saw us pull up, she had started to make our usual orders. When we had seen the sign about their problem though, we had carried on, not thinking the drive-thru would be open, but it was so sweet that they had actually started to make our order. I apologized for the inconvenience, and the Barista responded that it was ok, she loves my usual so she drank it!
3. When we went inside, several staff greeted us and asked us how we were:)
4. I ordered my caramel macchiato with no fat and s-f vanilla (mmmm:)
5. Les had a venti sumantra, some skim milk and an expresso brownie...which I got a bite of:)
6. I dipped a low-fat vanilla almond biscotti in my macchiato (mmmmmm:)
7. We got to sit in the big comfy green armchairs (I even curled my feet up:)
8. One of the Barista's came over and asked if we would do a coffee sampling with her.
9. We said sure and it turned out that she was sampling the new Brazilian blend that Les and I had been talking about on the drive over. We had just been saying that we wondered what it was like and that if we didn't notice it as one of the brews of the day soon we might ask them to make a french press of it so we could try it.
10. It had a wonderful nutty flavour and no bitterness. We'll definitely be buying some beans for at home.
11. The Barista made it in a french press, which is our favoured method of brewing regular coffee at home.
12. We enjoyed relaxing in our cozy chairs with our beverages and talked away!
13. Les says we're going back tomorrow! :))



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Well this week my husband and I actually have a few days off together, which is not so common as he works shiftwork and I have a desk job. And so far we've been quite busy... We've been painting the deck, purchasing trees, tending our yard, going to doctor's appointments, and we've even fit one trip to Starbucks in there so far (...hoping for another one tomorrow after we plant those trees;) We just got back from a huge bike ride where Amanda tackled the hills with a new resolve...definitely worthy of the ice cream treat we bought her on the route home:) When we got home, we fertilized the lawn and gardens and are just about to tuck Miss Amanda into bed. Then Les and I are going to have our very own well earned treat...sushi:) I wish every week could be like this one!!

Me - A Fluffed Up Rabbit?

A funny thing happened when we got the mail the other day. The spring newsletter for Breakforth came and it had an amazing article in it from Brian Doerksen that spoke to my husband quite powerfully. So Les read it aloud to me, and God definitely was saying some stuff to both of us through it (...I will share more about that another day). But then when he was finished and I was thinking about what he read, I flipped through the newsletter myself and stumbled upon an article by Ken Davis. Ken was not someone I knew much about before last year's conference, but during his main-stage presentation last year, God used Ken to remind me that "He ADORES (me) you." So with that thought in mind, I read Ken's article. It started out like one of those funny little stories that get emailed around that has a mushy point at the end. Only the point at the end wasn't mushy, but it was something I needed to hear. It wasn't a comfortable thing to hear and yet my soul took comfort in it. Now I need to figure out what, if anything, God wants me to do about it...or if He just wants me to be and see what He intends to do about it. Here's the article... (oh, and don't worry, I haven't been fueding with any neighbours lately, and I certainly haven't been fluffing up any rabbits?!;)

A woman happened to be looking out the window of her home one day. She was horrified to see her German Shepherd shaking the life out of the neighbor’s rabbit. Her family had been quarreling with these neighbors; this was certainly going to make matters worse. She grabbed a broom and ran outside, pummeling the pooch until he dropped a rabbit now covered with dog-spit — and extremely dead.

After a moment’s consideration, the woman lifted the rabbit with the end of the broom and brought it into the house. She dumped its lifeless body into the bathtub and turned on the shower. When the water running off the rabbit was clean, she rolled him over and rinsed the other side. Now she had a plan. She found her hairdryer and blew the rabbit dry. Using an old comb, she groomed the rabbit until he looked pretty good. Then, when the neighbor wasn’t looking, she hopped over the fence, snuck across the backyard, and propped him up in his cage. No way was she taking the blame for this.

About an hour later, she heard screams coming from the neighbor’s yard. She ran outside, pretending she didn’t know what was going on. “What’s happened?” she asked innocently. Her neighbor came running to the fence. All the blood had drained from her face. “Our rabbit, our rabbit!” she blubbered. “He died two weeks ago, we buried him - and now he's back!”

Had the neighbor poked the rabbit or tried to play with him, she would have discovered
the truth: The rabbit was dead. And playing with a fluffed-up dead rabbit isn’t much fun.

The same is true with fluffed-up dead people. One of the disadvantages of living in an affluent society - meaning most of us - is that it’s too easy to get dead and buried before we’re dead and buried. We clutch our material possessions and social status tightly. We’re afraid to take risks, stand out in a crowd, or do anything that could make us look different. In a world of people whose first priority is to maintain the status quo, simply looking alive is too dangerous.

I once spoke with a news anchorman who hated nearly every aspect of his job. When I asked him why he didn’t quit, he said he’d come too far to turn back now. To search for something more significant in life would mean taking a pay cut and relinquishing a few job perks. So every day he gets up and heads for a job he hates, so he won’t lose what he’s gained. And just what has he gained? It sounds like a fluffed-up dead rabbit to me. All over North America people remain in jobs they hate so they can buy stuff they don’t need to impress people who don’t care.

God created you for so much more than that. Could it be time for you to take a deep breath and really live again? Take some risks. God's plan for your life was never about being propped up in a cage. I’ve met dozens of people who finally trusted God and made their escapes. Some changed jobs; some changed attitudes; some took the initiative and summoned up the courage to live out their convictions. There are some who are living with fewer financial resources than before, but they’re experiencing an excitement and a renewed faith they never knew was possible. The renewed fire in their lives leaves no doubt they’re alive.

Jesus is about life. If you feel as if you’ve been shaken, hosed off, and propped up to dry, chances are it's time to take a look around. God wants you to live. People will be delighted an amazed that you’re back.
“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. -
Jim Elliot

This is an excerpt from Ken Davis’ book, Lighten Up!

Your Grace is Enough

On May 2nd, I blogged a definition of grace that we recently looked at in my small group, it went like this:

If your friend punches you in the face and you decide not to
retaliate...that's MERCY.

If your friend punches you in the face and you
decide not to retaliate and you tell him that it won't affect your
friendship...that's FORGIVENESS.

If your friend punches you in the face
and you decide not to retailiate and you tell him that it won't affect your
friendship AND you buy him an ice cream cone...that's GRACE.

So this was the definition in my mind at Church tonight when we sang, "Your Grace is Enough"...only, not too far into the chorus, it struck me that the word "enough" wasn't ENOUGH to express what God's grace is. It's MORE than we deserve, it's MORE than a simple pardon, it's MORE than we can possibly fathom, and it certainly IS MORE than ENOUGH!

Thirteen Pretty Perennials in my garden:

(Busy busy week here, so it's going to be a quick list today, but I chose to do perennials because I had aweful luck with them the first year I tried, but this year I have been so pleasantly surprised at what's already blooming:)

1. Delphiniums
2. Chasta Daisies
3. Roses (ok, these aren't perennials, they're bushes, but they still return to bloom each year:)
4. Purple cone flower
5. Phlox
6. Salvia
7. Lilies (my friend Alana shared these with me from her garden last year and I think they will actually bloom this year:)
8. Irises (another plant shared with me by Alana...it didn't bloom last year, but I'm hoping it's established enough to bloom this year).
9. Painted Daisies.
10. Tulips (although they are done blooming now)
11. Obedient plant (this is what they look like as someone in the comments mentioned they hadn't seen one before)
12. Pink Nancy (got this at the Church perrenial sale last year and already I've been able to divide the plant and share it in other parts of our beds...I'm sure it has another name too.)
13. A purple flowering plant that I can't remember the name of right now, but when I get the chance to go out into the backyard tonight, I will update this with it's name)
**update* I went outside and there's no tag in the ground, so I still can't place the name of that plant, but I noticed that I have several other perrenials that I haven't already listed...dianthis, violas, aruga and chives.





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I haven't time to think much less post these days...but today I read a snippet on another blog that is SO worth sharing, I had to find a minute. It's from Daisy's blog. She's someone I found through the Thursday Thirteen group. Here's what she had to say...

As a young wife and mother I used to think of myself as "Cotton
Candy"......sweet and fluffy but not alot of substance. So I began to read and
study the lives of women I admired to see what the "it" factor was.

So much of a woman's identity is caught up in how she looks. We are constantly
bombarded on a daily basis of pencil thin anorexic actresses who are held up as
examples of beauty. We are told if we use a certain toothpaste that our smiles
will be gleaming, and certain shampoos will make our hair irresistable. The
emphasis is helping women look good on the outside. Never mind the inward
reality; go for the "quick-fix" .

I'm fed up with "the secret keys", "the 22 ways", and the surefire plan. I'm fed up with the phony masks of self-styled Christian experts and the dishonesty of those who proclaim one thing while living something completely different. I'm tired of looking at the superficial, the fake, the phony, when "the real thing" is within my grasp.

With each passing day, I become more determined to know nothing except
Christ and him crucified. I don't have all the answers. I haven't arrived. I
don't have the perfect marriage, or the perfect children. I only know that Jesus
Christ has done something incredible in my life. My circumstances haven't changed a bit but I am changed none the less. I used to be at Point A now I'm at Point E. Hey it's not Point Z but it is forward progress.

I may not look perfect on the outside, but I am changing inside. Nothing magical, but I've lost a pound of sin here and an ounce of crummy attitude there. I blow it every day of my life, but I'm not who I used to be and I'm not who I would have been.

I don't want people to look at me and say, "Wow, what a remarkable
woman. What a remarkable Christian." I truly want people to look at me and say,
"What a remarkable God she must serve. If God can work through an ordinary woman like her, maybe he can work through me too."

The woman God can use knows where her value comes from. She is precious because of Who created her. She is valuable because of the One Who dwells with in her, not because of the material he used to fashion her or how he chooses to use her. There you have it...... If you want radiant skin, beautiful clear eyes, and a glowing personality start by working on "inward beauty".

What are your beauty secrets? What feeds your soul?

13 TV Shows I Enjoy (or have enjoyed) watching:

1. What Not to Wear

2. Gilmore Girls

3. The Apprentice (although I have to admit that I haven't watched it at all really this year).

4. Hockey Night in Canada

5. The Thirsty Traveller (I've only seen a couple of episodes, but it made me want to go to France and Ireland even more!)

6. Martha (sometimes I watch it while I'm working out Friday mornings after my daughter has gone to school).

7. Rachel Ray (I've seen one on 30 minutes meals a few times that was good, plus I've seen a travel one once that I really liked).

8. Debbie Travis' Painted House (this isn't on anymore, but I liked it better than her current one called Facelift)

9. Reba (occasionally we catch a bit of this before heading to bed. Les says I can sing the theme song just like her?! It's good for a laugh anyway:)

10. Neat (I like getting tips from the host on how to organize things; but I usually end up missing this one...it's just a half an hour but it's on Saturday night and we're usually out and about)

11. Seinfeld (another one that Les and I sometimes catch a few minutes of later in the evening...what I enjoy is Les enjoying this show and quoting it back later:)

12. One Day at a Time (This hasn't been on in years, but it was my favourite when I was a kid.)

13. Deal or No Deal (again one I've only seen a few times...I always think they should take the deal though!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Weekend Update

I had a nice long weekend, but it's back to work for me today. Les had to work the weekend again, but he did have Friday off, so we hired a sitter and had a date night on Thursday night. He took me to Earl's (one of my favorites...they were a little bit 'OFF' on Thursday, but a good time was still had). Then we went shopping...clothes shopping actually, and we both got a few new things. I like buying stuff that I KNOW my husband really likes on me:)

Our whole family had Friday off of work and school, so we slept late and headed out for a bike ride together. There is a new pond in one of the parks in our area, so we've been exploring around there lately. Then we did a bit of yard work and showered up in time to take Amanda to her friend's bday/sleepover party. Les and I then snuck off for dinner together. We went to Alexanders where the 'poulet du chef' was excellent! We then headed over to Dutch Growers to look at tall, skinny trees...swedish aspens to be exact. We're thinking about getting three of them for along the fence in our backyard. Then we met a friend for coffee at Starbucks and went for a drive with her looking at condos, as she is looking at moving.

On Saturday morning, Les headed out to work and I waited around for the Unversity student painters to come out and quote on how much it would cost to paint our deck. Wayyyyy too much was the answer!! I have a friend who is getting most of the main floor of her house done for less than they quoted for our deck?!! So I guess we'll be doing it ourselves and not hiring a student after all. I had thought this would be a good way to help out a student, but I guess not. If any of you have experience or advice about deck painting, please let me know. I think it's just one of those necessary evils that has to be repeated every three years or so!

Anyway, after the paint quote I had a bit of time to kill before I needed to pick Amanda up so I headed downtown and did a bit more browsing. This is so rare for me...to actually have some time alone to browse and try things on. Then when I picked Amanda up from her party, I had coffee with her friend's mom, which was so good since we hadn't been able to find the time between our two schedules for a while. Also, it was good for me to be in another mother's house and see how she interacts with her children. She's a wonderful mom, but, honestly, I realized in that hour just how easy Amanda has it our house in many ways...which was good because lately I get this big guilt trip back from her anytime I ask her to do anything.

Saturday night we headed to church then out with friends. Sunday morning I snuck out for another bike ride and then cleaned house, and when Les got home, we decided to have a family night IN as he needed some downtime to be the 'king of his castle'. So I made one of his favourites for supper and we caught a bit of the hockey game after that.

Monday morning was about laundry for me and then while I was getting myself together after my shower the power went out, so that definitely limited what else could be done. After Les finished work, we headed over to his parents for super and I got to meet my mother-in-law's childhood friend and her husband who are in town visiting from Kelowna. What I especially enjoyed about it was seeing my mother-in-law giggle with her friend after supper. I want more of that for her!

Well that brings us pretty much up to date. Hope you had a good weekend too:)