Making an Elf of Ourselves...
Sherri
and
Les
Sunday, December 24, 2006
A Very Brophy Christmas!!
Every year we have both sides of our families over for Christmas, and every year Les works on Christmas day, so we have never had a 'normal' Christmas morning as just our immediate family...that is, until this year. Our Church held a candle-light Christmas Eve service on the eve of Christmas Eve, and so last night we did our normal Christmas Eve traditions with family over after the service...and then we carved out today for a 'very Brophy Christmas' which meant just the 3 of us - Les, Amanda and me. We had oatmeal cookie pancakes for breakfast, then leisurely shared gifts (instead of the usual rushing on Christmas day after Les gets home from work and before we have both sides of the family over and share turkey). Then we visited, played games, snacked and enjoyed our first Christmas alone together. Tomorrow Les will head off to work and when he comes home both sides of the family will be over and the turkey feast will begin, but I have to say that I like this new tradition...a little bit of peace that I'm treasuring in my heart tonight:)
Merry Christmas!
Every year we have both sides of our families over for Christmas, and every year Les works on Christmas day, so we have never had a 'normal' Christmas morning as just our immediate family...that is, until this year. Our Church held a candle-light Christmas Eve service on the eve of Christmas Eve, and so last night we did our normal Christmas Eve traditions with family over after the service...and then we carved out today for a 'very Brophy Christmas' which meant just the 3 of us - Les, Amanda and me. We had oatmeal cookie pancakes for breakfast, then leisurely shared gifts (instead of the usual rushing on Christmas day after Les gets home from work and before we have both sides of the family over and share turkey). Then we visited, played games, snacked and enjoyed our first Christmas alone together. Tomorrow Les will head off to work and when he comes home both sides of the family will be over and the turkey feast will begin, but I have to say that I like this new tradition...a little bit of peace that I'm treasuring in my heart tonight:)
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Where Have I Been?
I haven't found time to check blogs much less post on mine lately (and look, it's nearly Christmas and this blog is still decorated for fall?!) On November 27th I started my new job...and the first week was, well, it WAS! Without going into many details, let's just say my partner felt the need to send me flowers at home by the end of the week which was a nice end to a...I-don't-know-how-to-describe-it...week! I'm working 3 days a week which doesn't sound like it should be so hectic as it is, but it is a very fast paced environment, and I dare say I haven't even had so much as a lunch hour to myself with out a meeting or a lunch and learn. Also I'm working much longer days than I used to (and remember Les does shiftwork). I used to be able to work my job around Amanda's school hours, but now my Dolly has to be a bit more independent (and that's a bit hard on me...she's doing fine with it though:) But overall, I have to say that things have been going pretty well. I'm now at the end of week three and find myself much happier at work now that I have some clients and some people stuff to manage. I love the people stuff about work...always have...anywhere I go, it's the people...the clients, the staff, the people who "make" my day...
On a related, but unrelated note, my Christmas party for work was last weekend, and it was very nice...and very well organized, just as you would expect for a bunch of accountants. Les commented afterward that you could sure tell it was a room full of accountants when the punchline to the big joke at our table was "QAR"... (QAR stands for quality review). Anyway, it was a lovely evening from the start (being greeted by the OMP with a glass of champagne) to the finish (learning about other countries and how they celebrate Christmas and then actually being able to participate in a meaningful tradition from Poland).
One more thing that I meant to post last week, and is related to the above in that it has to do with Christmas, is that Les, Amanda and I attended a "Cheer Party" at Starbucks last Tuesday. It was a blast! Free peppermint mocha's and eggnog latte's...live music...treats... Christmas at Starbucks is so good! I say, "On with the tradition!"
I haven't found time to check blogs much less post on mine lately (and look, it's nearly Christmas and this blog is still decorated for fall?!) On November 27th I started my new job...and the first week was, well, it WAS! Without going into many details, let's just say my partner felt the need to send me flowers at home by the end of the week which was a nice end to a...I-don't-know-how-to-describe-it...week! I'm working 3 days a week which doesn't sound like it should be so hectic as it is, but it is a very fast paced environment, and I dare say I haven't even had so much as a lunch hour to myself with out a meeting or a lunch and learn. Also I'm working much longer days than I used to (and remember Les does shiftwork). I used to be able to work my job around Amanda's school hours, but now my Dolly has to be a bit more independent (and that's a bit hard on me...she's doing fine with it though:) But overall, I have to say that things have been going pretty well. I'm now at the end of week three and find myself much happier at work now that I have some clients and some people stuff to manage. I love the people stuff about work...always have...anywhere I go, it's the people...the clients, the staff, the people who "make" my day...
On a related, but unrelated note, my Christmas party for work was last weekend, and it was very nice...and very well organized, just as you would expect for a bunch of accountants. Les commented afterward that you could sure tell it was a room full of accountants when the punchline to the big joke at our table was "QAR"... (QAR stands for quality review). Anyway, it was a lovely evening from the start (being greeted by the OMP with a glass of champagne) to the finish (learning about other countries and how they celebrate Christmas and then actually being able to participate in a meaningful tradition from Poland).
One more thing that I meant to post last week, and is related to the above in that it has to do with Christmas, is that Les, Amanda and I attended a "Cheer Party" at Starbucks last Tuesday. It was a blast! Free peppermint mocha's and eggnog latte's...live music...treats... Christmas at Starbucks is so good! I say, "On with the tradition!"
Monday, November 13, 2006
The Big Gummy-Bear Is NOT the Poster-boy for Gluttony
Warning: Rant ahead...
I've held my tongue on this one about as long as I can, but the big gummy-bear being used to symbolize the sin of gluttony this week in the announcements at church took me over the top. First off, let me say, that I KNOW it was meant to be funny, ...still, I'm not laughing...
Our Church is doing a sermon series on the 7 deadly sins. A couple of weeks ago it was gluttony's turn. The speaker was someone that I respect and that I have learned much from in the past (and I'm sure I will learn much from in the future), so I was looking forward to hearing what he would say on this one. He started his message with a statistic on how many Americans are overweight or obese...linking this as an example of gluttony. He did also mention in his message how things like shopping, excessive tv watching etc. could also be an examples of gluttony as well. But I couldn't get past his link right off the bat of overweight or size to this particular sin. Sure, it is true that there are people who are overweight who overeat, but this isn't necessarily true of all overweight people, and I am so tired of discriminatory comments like that. It wouldn't be acceptable on the following weekend when sloth was discussed to single out a particular racial group and use negative statistics about their presence in the workforce to illustrate sloth. And likewise, it wasn't acceptable, to me anyway, for overweight statistics to be used to illustrate gluttony either.
I would have been fine if we would have talked about overindulgence or overeating to illustrate his point, but to use size statistics as his hook to convince us that more than half the population has a problem with gluttony, well, it just wasn't credible to me. Probably most of the people in the congregation could have identified with gluttony in their lives without someone using their size against them. Food-wise, there were probably plenty of people listening who weren't overweight but had personal experience with over-indulgence. The size of a person does not tell the tale of how present or absent this sin is from their life. In fact, it is my own excessive focus on eating less food, counting and balancing carbs and proteins and exercise that is probably a more glutton-ous behaviour on my own part. When it all comes down to it, it is not what you see on the outside that tells you about the sin a person struggles with because really it is a matter of the heart, and so often it cannot be detected with the eye.
Perhaps I've taken the sermon illustration more personally than I should have, but it is a personal matter to me. I am someone who has dealt with size my whole life and who works ever so hard everyday to make sure that I eat healthy and exercise, and size-ist comments that have been thrown my direction over the years have made self-acceptance a very hard thing for me...and I have just fought the stereotypes too hard in my own life to let this illustration go... Besides, what do the pastor's statistics mean in any case? He was saying that some number over 50% of Americans are overweight or obese. Do you know what that tells me? Not much since reading that by BMI standards Brad Pitt is overweight and George Clooney and Russell Crowe are obese (obese?!!). You know, just the other night I caught a feature on CNN about the designer's creating a new size...a 00 (that's right, a size zero is no longer small enough, they've created a double zero). In the news story, a reporter wanted to get a sense of what is might be like to be a larger woman living in a world where there is now a size smaller than zero, so the reporter put on a fat suit and uglied themselves up to go out and see how it felt in the real world. First of all, I thought it was 'rich' that they couldn't just go out in the fat suit...they had to ugly themselves up too (bad hair, skin, teeth, etc)...after all, there ARE still people out there who think 'fat and ugly' are one word?! (Rich!, I know!) Secondly, I had to do a double take when they mentioned the size of the reporter after donning her fat-suit. It was a 12?!! Do you know that I have never in my adult nor teenage life been a size 12...NEVER! All the diet pills consumed, all the meals skipped, all the calories counted and fats eliminated, carbs watched and balanced, exercise...all of it and I have never made it down to the size of that reporter's fat-suit.... (ughhhhhhhh!!!!)
Anyway, later that night I was hungry (real stomach hunger) for a snack, and I gave in after watching that news story. The next day I felt bad and told my husband that I was a glutton for having that snack. He looked at me in disbelief. "Good grief," he said, "You had a bit of oatmeal. Most people watching tv on a Saturday night are ordering pizza in and you are feeling bad about a small bowl of oatmeal?!" What nonsense indeed! That being said, rant over... I'm just going to let this all go now... (breathe in, breathe out:)
Warning: Rant ahead...
I've held my tongue on this one about as long as I can, but the big gummy-bear being used to symbolize the sin of gluttony this week in the announcements at church took me over the top. First off, let me say, that I KNOW it was meant to be funny, ...still, I'm not laughing...
Our Church is doing a sermon series on the 7 deadly sins. A couple of weeks ago it was gluttony's turn. The speaker was someone that I respect and that I have learned much from in the past (and I'm sure I will learn much from in the future), so I was looking forward to hearing what he would say on this one. He started his message with a statistic on how many Americans are overweight or obese...linking this as an example of gluttony. He did also mention in his message how things like shopping, excessive tv watching etc. could also be an examples of gluttony as well. But I couldn't get past his link right off the bat of overweight or size to this particular sin. Sure, it is true that there are people who are overweight who overeat, but this isn't necessarily true of all overweight people, and I am so tired of discriminatory comments like that. It wouldn't be acceptable on the following weekend when sloth was discussed to single out a particular racial group and use negative statistics about their presence in the workforce to illustrate sloth. And likewise, it wasn't acceptable, to me anyway, for overweight statistics to be used to illustrate gluttony either.
I would have been fine if we would have talked about overindulgence or overeating to illustrate his point, but to use size statistics as his hook to convince us that more than half the population has a problem with gluttony, well, it just wasn't credible to me. Probably most of the people in the congregation could have identified with gluttony in their lives without someone using their size against them. Food-wise, there were probably plenty of people listening who weren't overweight but had personal experience with over-indulgence. The size of a person does not tell the tale of how present or absent this sin is from their life. In fact, it is my own excessive focus on eating less food, counting and balancing carbs and proteins and exercise that is probably a more glutton-ous behaviour on my own part. When it all comes down to it, it is not what you see on the outside that tells you about the sin a person struggles with because really it is a matter of the heart, and so often it cannot be detected with the eye.
Perhaps I've taken the sermon illustration more personally than I should have, but it is a personal matter to me. I am someone who has dealt with size my whole life and who works ever so hard everyday to make sure that I eat healthy and exercise, and size-ist comments that have been thrown my direction over the years have made self-acceptance a very hard thing for me...and I have just fought the stereotypes too hard in my own life to let this illustration go... Besides, what do the pastor's statistics mean in any case? He was saying that some number over 50% of Americans are overweight or obese. Do you know what that tells me? Not much since reading that by BMI standards Brad Pitt is overweight and George Clooney and Russell Crowe are obese (obese?!!). You know, just the other night I caught a feature on CNN about the designer's creating a new size...a 00 (that's right, a size zero is no longer small enough, they've created a double zero). In the news story, a reporter wanted to get a sense of what is might be like to be a larger woman living in a world where there is now a size smaller than zero, so the reporter put on a fat suit and uglied themselves up to go out and see how it felt in the real world. First of all, I thought it was 'rich' that they couldn't just go out in the fat suit...they had to ugly themselves up too (bad hair, skin, teeth, etc)...after all, there ARE still people out there who think 'fat and ugly' are one word?! (Rich!, I know!) Secondly, I had to do a double take when they mentioned the size of the reporter after donning her fat-suit. It was a 12?!! Do you know that I have never in my adult nor teenage life been a size 12...NEVER! All the diet pills consumed, all the meals skipped, all the calories counted and fats eliminated, carbs watched and balanced, exercise...all of it and I have never made it down to the size of that reporter's fat-suit.... (ughhhhhhhh!!!!)
Anyway, later that night I was hungry (real stomach hunger) for a snack, and I gave in after watching that news story. The next day I felt bad and told my husband that I was a glutton for having that snack. He looked at me in disbelief. "Good grief," he said, "You had a bit of oatmeal. Most people watching tv on a Saturday night are ordering pizza in and you are feeling bad about a small bowl of oatmeal?!" What nonsense indeed! That being said, rant over... I'm just going to let this all go now... (breathe in, breathe out:)
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
A little over 4 years ago, I used to sing this song (see below) ...meaning many of it's words. And then God turned my waiting into dancing, and the "brown-eyed boy" in my future (from the song) appeared...and every day since his love have given me a bigger taste of heaven and taught me more about God's love.
Born To Fly
I've been telling my dreams to the scarecrow
About the places that I'd like to see
I say, "friend do you think I'll ever get there?"
Oh, but he just stands there smilin' back at me
So I confessed my sins to the preacher
About the love I've been prayin' to find
Is there a brown-eyed boy in my future, yeah
And he says, "girl, you've got nothin' but time."
But how do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know that you were born,
You were born to fly
My daddy he is grounded like the oak tree
My momma she is steady as the sun
Oh, you know I love my folks
But I keep starin' down the road
Just lookin' for my one chance to run
Hey, cause I will soar away like a blackbird
I will blow in the wind like a seed
I will plant my heart in the garden of my dreams
And I will grow up where I wander wild and free
Oh, How do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know, that you were born?
You were born, yeah, you were born to fly
Today is the 4th anniversary of the day I married that "brown-eyed boy"! And I love him even more today than on the day I said "I do". He and his love are teaching me to 'fly'!
Born To Fly
I've been telling my dreams to the scarecrow
About the places that I'd like to see
I say, "friend do you think I'll ever get there?"
Oh, but he just stands there smilin' back at me
So I confessed my sins to the preacher
About the love I've been prayin' to find
Is there a brown-eyed boy in my future, yeah
And he says, "girl, you've got nothin' but time."
But how do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know that you were born,
You were born to fly
My daddy he is grounded like the oak tree
My momma she is steady as the sun
Oh, you know I love my folks
But I keep starin' down the road
Just lookin' for my one chance to run
Hey, cause I will soar away like a blackbird
I will blow in the wind like a seed
I will plant my heart in the garden of my dreams
And I will grow up where I wander wild and free
Oh, How do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet on the ground
When you know, that you were born?
You were born, yeah, you were born to fly
Today is the 4th anniversary of the day I married that "brown-eyed boy"! And I love him even more today than on the day I said "I do". He and his love are teaching me to 'fly'!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Everlasting God
(by Chris Tomlin)
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our hope, Our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our hope, Our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
Our God You reign forever
Our hope, Our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
God, You are everlasting
(by Chris Tomlin)
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our hope, Our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our hope, Our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
Our God You reign forever
Our hope, Our strong deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
God, You are everlasting
Friday, October 27, 2006
I Know an Author...
Last night I attended a reception for someone I used to work with a few years ago. He has definitely earned his 'lion-taming hat' (look back at July and August's posts if you are not sure of what I'm talking about there)! A few years ago he left behind the exciting life of a CA to explore his life-long dream of being a writer. And last night at McNally Robinson, he launched his 4th book!! He is the author of the Russell Quant mystery series of books. His main character is a novice private detective based in Saskatoon who travels about the globe too. This morning my husband read a few excerpts of Tony's new book to me, (which, incidentally, was presented to me at the reception by my soon to be new boss...who was, also incidentally, my boss once before, but that is another story..) and we both (that is, Les & I) found ourselves giggling about the descriptives we found in the excerpts of this place where we live:)
It was fun to get together with many of my former co-workers from a few years ago to celebrate Tony's success last night and to see where life has taken them. And seeing Tony, as always, was a good reminder to us all to "live life wide" ... (he's always saying that, "life is short, but wide!")
Last night I attended a reception for someone I used to work with a few years ago. He has definitely earned his 'lion-taming hat' (look back at July and August's posts if you are not sure of what I'm talking about there)! A few years ago he left behind the exciting life of a CA to explore his life-long dream of being a writer. And last night at McNally Robinson, he launched his 4th book!! He is the author of the Russell Quant mystery series of books. His main character is a novice private detective based in Saskatoon who travels about the globe too. This morning my husband read a few excerpts of Tony's new book to me, (which, incidentally, was presented to me at the reception by my soon to be new boss...who was, also incidentally, my boss once before, but that is another story..) and we both (that is, Les & I) found ourselves giggling about the descriptives we found in the excerpts of this place where we live:)
It was fun to get together with many of my former co-workers from a few years ago to celebrate Tony's success last night and to see where life has taken them. And seeing Tony, as always, was a good reminder to us all to "live life wide" ... (he's always saying that, "life is short, but wide!")
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
"If Jesus appeared at your dining room table tonight with knowledge of everything you are and are not, total comprehension of your life story and every skeleton hidden in your closet; if he laid out the real state of your present discipleship with the hidden agenda, the mixed motives, and the dark desires buried in your psyche, you would feel his acceptance and forgiveness. For "experiencing God's love in Jesus Christ means experiencing that one has been unreservedly accepted, approved and infinitely loved, that one can and should accept oneself and one's neighbor."
Brennan Manning - The Ragamuffin Gospel
Brennan Manning - The Ragamuffin Gospel
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
So I don't know if I like what I'm learning right now, but that's the thing about learning...once you know something to be true with your heart (not just your head), you know it...and you can stick your head in the sand and pretend you don't know it all you want... and maybe on the outside people won't realize you know better, but inside you do...you know you do.
So here's what I'm learning... I have to accept myself. You would think that in my thirty-some years of life I would have already learned that one and acted on it...and in some aspects I have, but if I'm being really honest, there is proof in my life that I hold myself to a different standard than anyone else. And though I don't doubt God's love nor grace toward me one bit, I don't have much grace for me. And while we're being honest, I might just as well admit that I am concerned far too much with pleasing other people, and I fear criticism.
Yesterday as I was in a changeroom trying on some jeans, I saw some dimples on my upper thighes..a most disappointing (and somewhat shallow) sight, but then I interrupted my thoughts on the matter with what I had read in a Brennan Manning book that morning... I need to just accept myself.
Later as I was talking to Les, I came to see that I can be aweful to myself. If I see something wrong with how I look, then I doubt I could possibly be pretty...if I have a moment of behavior that I think is not sweet, then I think that I could not possibly be sweet. I do not see the big picture when I look at myself, and I would never treat someone else that way.
There is a whole lot more that I could say on the matter...these are just a few simple examples, but I am learning the next step to walking in God's grace is to accept who I am... I thought I did that already?!
So here's what I'm learning... I have to accept myself. You would think that in my thirty-some years of life I would have already learned that one and acted on it...and in some aspects I have, but if I'm being really honest, there is proof in my life that I hold myself to a different standard than anyone else. And though I don't doubt God's love nor grace toward me one bit, I don't have much grace for me. And while we're being honest, I might just as well admit that I am concerned far too much with pleasing other people, and I fear criticism.
Yesterday as I was in a changeroom trying on some jeans, I saw some dimples on my upper thighes..a most disappointing (and somewhat shallow) sight, but then I interrupted my thoughts on the matter with what I had read in a Brennan Manning book that morning... I need to just accept myself.
Later as I was talking to Les, I came to see that I can be aweful to myself. If I see something wrong with how I look, then I doubt I could possibly be pretty...if I have a moment of behavior that I think is not sweet, then I think that I could not possibly be sweet. I do not see the big picture when I look at myself, and I would never treat someone else that way.
There is a whole lot more that I could say on the matter...these are just a few simple examples, but I am learning the next step to walking in God's grace is to accept who I am... I thought I did that already?!
Monday, October 16, 2006
We went to the Carolyn Arends concert last night. It was most excellent, as usual. I found myself in tears in many of her lyrics though...this one, in particular, struck a chord with where I'm at right now. I don't know if I will work through all the things I'm feeling by the time I go back to work. The other day I found myself fretting about needing to fill each of the moments I have to the brim and at the end of this experience feeling like I needed to have something big and profound to show for it all. That would be nice (sigh)...or, I could just dance like no one's watching....
Dance Like No One's Watching - Carolyn Arends
I want to sing just like the sparrow 'cause the sparrow knows
That your eye will be upon her everywhere that she goes
I want to shout out like the mountains 'cause they say those rocks
Love to lift up their praises and they never stop
I want to chase you like King David till it's all that I can do
To sing and shout and laugh about the way you made me new
I want to dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Nobody but you
I want to grow just like the lilies dressed up in your best
'Cause they stretch toward the sun and trust in you for the rest
I want to climb up like a daughter on her daddy's knee
Who is laughing 'cause she knows that she is loved abundantly
You said that I should come to you just like a little kid
And maybe even kick my heels the way that David did
I'm gonna dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Nobody but you
Well heaven knows I worry and those worries tend to keep me
Bottled up so tightly in my soul
So spill me like the perfume that was poured upon your feet
And then fill me till at last I overflow
That's when I'll dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Nobody but you
I want to chase you like King David till at last you capture me
And then I’ll sing and shout and laugh about the way you set me free
I want to dance like no one’s watching
Dance like no one’s watching
Dance like no one’s watching
Nobody but you
Dance Like No One's Watching - Carolyn Arends
I want to sing just like the sparrow 'cause the sparrow knows
That your eye will be upon her everywhere that she goes
I want to shout out like the mountains 'cause they say those rocks
Love to lift up their praises and they never stop
I want to chase you like King David till it's all that I can do
To sing and shout and laugh about the way you made me new
I want to dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Nobody but you
I want to grow just like the lilies dressed up in your best
'Cause they stretch toward the sun and trust in you for the rest
I want to climb up like a daughter on her daddy's knee
Who is laughing 'cause she knows that she is loved abundantly
You said that I should come to you just like a little kid
And maybe even kick my heels the way that David did
I'm gonna dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Nobody but you
Well heaven knows I worry and those worries tend to keep me
Bottled up so tightly in my soul
So spill me like the perfume that was poured upon your feet
And then fill me till at last I overflow
That's when I'll dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Dance like no one's watching
Nobody but you
I want to chase you like King David till at last you capture me
And then I’ll sing and shout and laugh about the way you set me free
I want to dance like no one’s watching
Dance like no one’s watching
Dance like no one’s watching
Nobody but you
Friday, October 13, 2006
I am *LOVING* Google Earth...so far I've traveled to France (Paris & the Eiffel Tower), to Dublin Ireland (and the Irish country-side), to London (Westminster Abbey, Abbey Road and Buckingham Palace), to Nashville, TN (and the Grande Ole Opry), to Seattle (and the Pike Place Starbucks as well and the Space Needle). I've also checked out where we live (went across the University Bridge, along Spadina...checked out downtown and where I'm going to work starting Nov. 27th and then headed to our neighbourhood..finding Amanda's school and our very own house!) Well, if I can't fly away to all the places I've dreamed of, at least I can explore them this way! ...It's kind of like that computer generated map of the city in the opening credits of 'You've Got Mail' ... the user clicks within it to a finer and finer level of detail in New York City until they get to the main character's flat and then the computer generated image gives way to reality and the story begins...
The Puppy Song (Harry Nilsson)
Dreams are nothing more than wishes
And a wish's just a dream you wish to come true
If only I could have a puppy
I'd call myself so very lucky
Just to have some company
To share a cup of tea with me
I'd take my puppy everywhere
La la la la I wouldn't care
Then we'll stay away from crowds
With signs that say no dogs allowed
Oh we... I know he'd never bite me
We... I know he'd never bite me
If only I could have a friend
Who sticks with me until the end
And walk along beside the sea
To share a bit of moon with me
I'd take my friend most everywhere
La la la la I wouldn't care
And we'll stay away from crowds
With signs that say no friends allowed
Oh we...we'd be so happy to be...
We...we'd be so happy to be together
But dreams are nothing more than wishes
And a wish's just a dream you wish to come true
Dreams are nothing more than wishes
(Your wish will come true)
And a wish's just a dream (Your wish will come true)
You wish to come true (Your wish will come true)
Monday, October 09, 2006
Thankful
I'm finding myself especially thankful this year. Of course I'm thankful for God's love and grace (too great for words really)...for our family, my loving husband and darling daughter...for our home and the fact that in a few minutes both of our extended families will be here for our Thanksgiving feast...for so many friends and for what God is doing in our small group...for our health...and for this beautiful fall, full of colour and God's splendor. I'm extremely thankful for all of those things, but what I'm especially thankful for today is a husband who not only 'let' me quit my job, but who actually encouraged it...who practically insisted upon it, and who has championed me having some time off before starting the next one...who has not put one ounce of pressure on me about the loss of income for a time and who has been pushing me to take time for myself and listening to me as I've been working through all sorts of feelings. He is God's man for me indeed! Thank-You, Father and thank-you, Les:)
I'm finding myself especially thankful this year. Of course I'm thankful for God's love and grace (too great for words really)...for our family, my loving husband and darling daughter...for our home and the fact that in a few minutes both of our extended families will be here for our Thanksgiving feast...for so many friends and for what God is doing in our small group...for our health...and for this beautiful fall, full of colour and God's splendor. I'm extremely thankful for all of those things, but what I'm especially thankful for today is a husband who not only 'let' me quit my job, but who actually encouraged it...who practically insisted upon it, and who has championed me having some time off before starting the next one...who has not put one ounce of pressure on me about the loss of income for a time and who has been pushing me to take time for myself and listening to me as I've been working through all sorts of feelings. He is God's man for me indeed! Thank-You, Father and thank-you, Les:)
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Oh-so-romantic...
I've probably always thought that going to the ballet would be one of the most romantic ways I could think of to spend a date-night. Well, last Saturday I got the chance to find out. Les took me to Romeo & Juliet and it did not disappoint. We sat in a third balcony box with a breath-taking view of the dance. We were able to hold hands and sneak kisses without anyone noticing, and at the intermission Les commented on how much he was enjoying it. Afterward we went to Starbucks for a night-cap.... an oh-so-romantic night!
Random after-thoughts:
- why don't I ever take pictures of us when we're out on the town?!
- Les noted that male ballerinas do not deserve the rap they get from guys
- our tickets were of the less-expensive variety, yet I think we had the best seats in the house!
- married couples need to date more...we try to go on at least once every month...I think every couple needs to have a date at least that often...maybe even more..
- my husband is quite a catch!
I've probably always thought that going to the ballet would be one of the most romantic ways I could think of to spend a date-night. Well, last Saturday I got the chance to find out. Les took me to Romeo & Juliet and it did not disappoint. We sat in a third balcony box with a breath-taking view of the dance. We were able to hold hands and sneak kisses without anyone noticing, and at the intermission Les commented on how much he was enjoying it. Afterward we went to Starbucks for a night-cap.... an oh-so-romantic night!
Random after-thoughts:
- why don't I ever take pictures of us when we're out on the town?!
- Les noted that male ballerinas do not deserve the rap they get from guys
- our tickets were of the less-expensive variety, yet I think we had the best seats in the house!
- married couples need to date more...we try to go on at least once every month...I think every couple needs to have a date at least that often...maybe even more..
- my husband is quite a catch!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Guess what we did today?!
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:)
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:)
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:)
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!!
...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!
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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!
________________________________________________
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
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?!
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!
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?!
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
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
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!)
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
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!)
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
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.
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
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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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!!
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
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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Wednesday, June 28, 2006
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!
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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! :)
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 !!
Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
| You are a beautiful princess with great strength of character.  |
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Wednesday, June 21, 2006
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!
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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:)
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
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
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!
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 07, 2006
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! :))
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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Tuesday, June 06, 2006
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!!
Sunday, June 04, 2006
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 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!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
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:
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 toSo 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!
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.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
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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Tuesday, May 30, 2006
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?
Thursday, May 25, 2006
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!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
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