Saturday, September 30, 2006

Guess what we did today?!

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This is my beautiful family! ...My handsome husband, Les, and our living doll of a daughter, Amanda:) The picture is an early proof that we already received in an email. Donna Rae Friesen took our wedding photographs a few years back, and recently she approached us about doing a family portrait as she had just gotten a new professional digital camera. I love how she framed this shot with the fall foilage and the bridge in the background:)

Thursday, September 28, 2006

What is it that I *LOVE* so much about Rachael Ray?

I don't own any of her books, and I've never bought her magazine, but yet I have to confess that I browse both of these when I'm in the market. I don't get the chance to watch her daily 30 minute meals show very often at all, and I've only caught a bit of her new talk show, but yet I have to admit that anytime that I've caught even a bit of these shows I've enjoyed them. If I'm being honest though, I'd have to admit that I find her a bit loud in her presentation, yet there is just something I *LOVE* about Rachael Ray. Maybe it's that Les and I have enjoyed the places she's taken us on "$40-a-day"... or maybe it's the fact that everyone of her recipes that I've tried has been a HIT! (DELISH bacon sloppy-joe's and YUM-O espresso brownies...well, I combined her and Martha's recipes on this one, but still, mmmm!) ...or it could be that she reminds me so much of Amanda's friend, Brianna (whom I adore), everytime I look at her... But whatever it is, I guess I'll just say it, I'm a fan:)

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Living the Dream

Well, it's official, I am a stay-at-home-wife-and-mom...at least for now... AND that is something I have always very much wanted to be! And yet I find myself with mixed emotions and expectations. Part of me is elated and can't plan enough things to do AND part of me is nervous about what comes after this... Well that part has pretty much been narrowed down... I've talked with and been interviewed for several opportuntities and by next Friday I will likely have made my decision, but I won't be joining the ranks of a working wife and mother again until later in November...and so, finally, I can take a deep breath and live the dream. I'm hoping in the weeks I have ahead I can get to do some things around here that I never get time for, but also I want some time to recharge and refresh... I've never really had that. I started working when I was 15 and have never pressed pause on that one since. It's good to be out of the work situation I was in, but I find it's taking me some time to come down and de-stress...old thoughts and concerns die hard. For those of you who've been praying me through this, thanks...and keep on praying if you don't mind, I need ya:)

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

The Bestest Pie Ever!

...and that had nothing to do with the recipe or how it was made or its actual taste, it had to do with the heart that bestowed it! Last night our neighbour from across the street dropped off a fresh-made pumpkin pie that she'd made especially for us...and when she did she had her adorable not-a-baby-for-much-longer with her...talk about a double blessing! She was just thanking us for sharing some of Amanda's things that she was done with with their daughter Ainsley. It was totally unnecessary, but very sweet none-the-less. How neighbourly!!

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

EDIT ... strike the following post...thanks to Brian from the Blogger Help Group, this should be fixed and the blog should be viewable in both IE and Firefox now!
________________________________________________

My apologies to those trying to view my blog using Internet Explorer. For some reason the body of my posts is not appearing in Explorer (it does appear though if you use Firefox, so you might want to try that). The parts of the body of my posts that seem to appear in Explorer are the images and anything I put in BOLD...hence the reason this post is in BOLD. I have tried to research the problem with blogger with no luck. If any you have any suggestions they would be much appreciated!

Monday, September 04, 2006

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Pike Place was the very first location of Starbucks in Seattle, and so for their 35th anniversary they have released the original Pike Place brew to commemorate it. Les and I had a date-night out last night, and the evening was concluded with a trip to the Starbucks on Broadway. After I had had my macchiato and biscotti (and Les his mocha light frap) the barrista made a french press of the Pike Place brew for us, and we did a sampling. It's a strong brew with a nutty aroma...very full bodied. As we sat there enjoying our lovely saucered-mugs of it, two thoughts went through my mind. First - 'I just love how Starbucks treats us', and second - 'I wonder if I'm going to be able to sleep tonight?!' (In the end I did!:)

Saturday, September 02, 2006

It's Fall!!

The other day when Les and I were at Starbucks they were putting out their fall offerings, so it's official (even though it's not the 21st on the calendar yet), it's FALL! And what a better way to start it than having someone serve you samples of pumpkin lattes?!
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The other thing that makes it officially fall around here is my darling daughter heading back to school. She's had two days under her belt already and has even come home with homework and not minded doing it! So far she loves her teacher and everything she does, but I'm not holding my breath just yet because there could be some classroom shuffling next week as they figure out the final number of students registered for each grade.

As we get into the swing of things, Les and I have started planning for our small group. We made calls last night and have been looking for materials to use for a while now. (Any and all suggestions are welcome!) I'm looking forward to small group this fall. One of the couples in our group is expecting in late October, so it's a very exciting time!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

"Just Showed Up"
Sara Groves

Spending my time sleep walking
Moving my mouth but not saying a thing
Hoping the changes would take by working their way

from the outside in
I was in love with an idea
Preoccupied with how a life should appear
Spending my time at the surface repairing the holes in the shiny veneer

There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

I'm going to live my life inspired
Look for the holy in the common place
Open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed
I'm going to feel all my emotions
I'm going to look you in the eyes
I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives

There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

Oh the glory of God is man fully alive
Oh the glory of God is man fully alive

There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Remembering God's Faithfulness

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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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Saturday, July 22, 2006

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.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

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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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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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Friday, July 14, 2006

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!!

Thursday, July 06, 2006

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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:)



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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Wednesday, June 28, 2006

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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!)




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!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Monday, June 26, 2006

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! :)

Friday, June 23, 2006

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

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

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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! :)




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!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

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:)

Sunday, June 18, 2006

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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:)

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

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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:)



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