This morning I was called in for overtime...

...nevermind that I don't work at the place that called me in...and nevermind the fact that I do not have a diploma, certificate or any sort of training for the job I was being called to do...and never mind that I was already in the shower when the call came in getting ready to head in to my own job...those are just minor details...I was called in for overtime! The irony of this all is that it was my husband's workplace doing the calling (he has just come off a string of days) and they had already left a message for him this morning...then they called back looking for me...Sherri. I asked my husband, "Do you work with any Sherri's...could they have just mixed up numbers?" "No," he said, "There are no Sherri's." Hmmm. So I asked him if I could borrow one of his transfer belts...if I'm going in for overtime, I better have the proper TLR equipment!

Singing an Old Song

At small group last night someone shared an old hymn that she used to sing in her childhood. I didn't recognize the song, but found myself singing old hymns from my childhood as I got ready for work this morning, and the beauty of the words to this song washed over me. It's a hymn we often sang during communion...

TAKE OUR BREAD
A TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN HYMN

Refrain:
Take our bread, we ask you,
Take our hearts, we love you,
Take our lives, oh Father,
We are yours, we are yours.

Yours as we stand at the table you set,
Yours as we eat the bread our hearts can't forget.
We are the signs of your life with us yet;
We are yours, we are yours.

Refrain:
Take our bread, we ask you,
Take our hearts, we love you,
Take our lives, oh Father,
We are yours, we are yours.

Your holy people standing washed in your blood,
Spirit-filled, yet hungry, we await your food.
Poor though we are, we have brought
Ourselves to you:
We are yours, we are yours.

Refrain:
Take our bread, we ask you,
Take our hearts, we love you,
Take our lives, oh Father,
We are yours, we are yours.

Words by Joseph Wise

Nowhere

"God utters me like a word containing a partial thought of himself. A word will never be able to comprehend the voice that utters it. But if I am true to the concept God utters in me, if I am true to the thought in him I was meant to embody, I shall be full of his actuality and find him everywhere in myself, and find myself nowhere. I shall be lost in him."
Thomas Merton in Seeds of Contemplation

Speaking of "nowhere"...have you ever noticed that if you combine the words 'now' and 'here' you get 'nowhere'? Brennan Manning writes that "To be fully present to whoever or whatever is immediately before us is to pitch a tent in the wilderness of Nowhere. It is an act of radical trust -- trust that God can be encountered at no other time and in no other place than in the present moment. Being fully present in the now is perhaps the premier skill of the spiritual life."

Thirteen Food Favourites 1. Tea - English Breakfast (which believe it or not was actually invented in Scotland...and by the way, Irish Breakfast Tea is very good as well!) 2. Salad - spinach (have you ever tried one at Kelsey's? ...homemade are always good too!) 3. Seafood - lobster 4. Chocolate - Lindt truffles 5. Wine - Gewurztraminer 6. Snack while watching Hockey Night in Canada with my hubby - parfaits (sugar free and fat free, of course:) 7. Coffee - Verona 8. Fruit - strawberries 9. Cheese - old cheddar and edam 10. Starbucks beverage - caramel macchiato (no fat and no sugar version) 11. Item to enjoy with said Starbucks beverage - vanilla almond biscotti (dipping it in my macchiato of course!) 12. Guilty pleasure/occasional treat (usually during the Gilmore Girls when my hubby is working evenings) - popcorn (with a glass of milk) 13. Restaurant to eat at - White Spot (...and we don't even have one here:( ...guess where we at at twice the last time we were in Edmonton?!:) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Kimmy, Daisy, Ardice, Dawn, Karen, Karin, Jade, Nancy, Norma, Kelly, Chickadee

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There is something just SO RIGHT about this cup and saucer...



...it's this year's valentine's cup from Starbucks and the heart in the bottom of the cup is actually also engraved out of the saucer so the two actually interlock when the cup is set down!

...and my amazing husband made the brilliant decision to get this for me for Valentine's Day! So sweet and so brilliant! (especially considering that I'm a girl with a thing for cups and saucers ...and Starbucks ...and even more so for HIM;)

We went out for an early dinner to Earl's last night. I had my favorites, the bento box and a glass of gewurztraminer. Then we went for a drive and even stopped by Starbucks before we headed home:) It was a fantastic date-night! I read our cards over again this morning before I headed off to work and my eyes were full of tears, again...

God blessed me with such a good man!!

VALENTINE
(Martina McBride)

If there were no words no way to speak
I would still hear you
If there were no tears no way to feel inside
I'd still feel for you
and even if the sun refused to shine
even if romance ran out of rhyme
you would still have my heart
until the end of time
you're all I need, my love,
my valentine

All of my life
I been waiting for all you give to me
you've opened my eyes
and showed me how to love unselfishly

I've dreamed of this a thousand times before
but in my dreams I couldn't love you more
I will give you my heart until the end of time
you're all I need, my love,
my valentine

And even if the sun refused to shine
even if romance ran out of rhyme
you would still have my heart
until the end of time
'cause all I need is you
my valentine
you're all I need, my love,
my valentine

Valentine Thoughts

With it almost being Valentine's Day, my heart is all wrapped up in romantic thoughts! It's not like I really need a special day though to go there...I'm just a romantic at heart every day:)

Today I've been remembering some of the most romantic things my debonair husband has done for me, so I'll share a few of them with you:

- leaving a dozen roses in my car on the seat while I was at work one day!

- writing me notes in French ("the language of love")...even when neither of us are particularly fluent in French:)

- rubbing my feet when they are tired.

- making me an Italian charm bracelet (without knowing there was a tool to help) after picking out charms that represented things about me to him:) (This was last year's Valentine:)

- surprising me in the kitchen with embraces from behind:)

- washing the floors (he never lets me do it!)

- the sweet things he calls me:)

- that look he gets on his face when he thinks I've done something cute.

- he always finds the perfect card!

- writing songs for me:)

- surprising me on the 12th day of Christmas with a bobble I had looked at in passing at the jewellry counter as we left the store...it's not just the bobble that touches me but his attentiveness to what I like (sigh!)

- always choosing the seat next to me so we can hold hands or snuggle:)

- insisting we go to Starbucks at the end of a tough day (even if we've already been there once or twice that week)

...

Thirteen Things: Favourite Authors (in no particular order) 1. Henri Nouwen (favourite book of his is: Life of the Beloved) 2. Catherine Marshall (my two favourites of hers are: Beyond Ourselves and Something More) 3. Jane Austin (Pride & Prejudice...need I say more?!) 4. Brennan Manning (everything I've ever read by him hits my heart...so I can't pick a favourite). 5. Luci Maud Montgomery 6. Carolyn Arends (The book - Living the Questions) 7. Louisa May Alcott 8. Brent Curtis (Sacred Romance) 9. Henry Drummond (The Greatest Thing in the World) 10. Margery Williams (...do you know what she wrote?) 11. D.L. Moody 12. John, the apostle (I love how John writes what it felt like!) 13. Eugene Peterson Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Chickadee, Kimmy and Jacob, Daisy

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

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Ok, so I haven't blogged for a while....I've been kind of busy....well, actually I've been away. Les and I went to Edmonton for the Breakforth conference and then a little together time thereafter:) It was an awesome trip! The highlights of the conference for me were getting to worship with and learn from the likes of Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Ken Davis and Twila Paris. I think that most of the learning was heart-learning for me this time and the thought that has stayed with me the most was Ken Davis' words about how God regards me... "HE adores you!"

Tomorrow it's back to work for me, so please keep me in your prayers if I cross your mind. In the meantime, here are the lyrics to the song of worship I'm wrapped up in right now:

Everything
Tim Hughes

Key: B

Verse 1:
God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping

God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Chorus:
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

Verse 2:
God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting

God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Bridge:
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything

©2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

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

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

I'm a Porsche Boxster!

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

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

All I Ever Have to Be
Amy Grant

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

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

I think I am.

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

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

Who you are...

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

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

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

Election

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

'Walk The Line' Scores Big At Golden Globes

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

Quote from an old Franciscan:

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

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

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

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

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

My Heritage

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

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

Starbucks

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

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

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

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

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

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

Takes a Little Time

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

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

[Chorus]

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

[Chorus]

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

[Chorus]

Walk the Line

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

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

My Tween!

My daughter is definitely a 'tween' these days.

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

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

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

Merry Christmas!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Brophy's

There You Are
written by Carolyn Arends

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

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

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

Repeat chorus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Guess What I Found on the Newstand Tonight?!

Someone I know is now famous!!

Les' Eve

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

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

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

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

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

English Tea Lyrics
(Paul McCartney)


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

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

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

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

(solo)

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

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

Brian Doerksen in Concert

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

Boy Those Roses Smell Good

I just had the most wonderful evening and day with my handsome husband. It started when I came home from work on Monday to 2 dozen (!!) huge long-stemmed white roses (with just a hint of pink:) along with a love note written en francais from Les!! (remember when he said that if you don't use your French you lose it:)

For our anniversary he had also gotten me a gift certificate for Bev Ashdown's for a pedicure (those are one of the most relaxing experiences I can think of:) and an amazing card:)

Then Les took me to the Granary for supper (as is our tradition:), where we had the most delightful meal (although I'll admit I was over my carb limit...but it was our anniversary after all!) Then we did some walking and browsing and ended our time out with coffee's at the new Starbucks on Broadway.

The whole time I felt like we had this big secret compared to the rest of the world...here it was a weekday and we were out on a date...here it was a weekday and we didn't have to worry about getting to bed on time:) You see, Grandma had Amanda overnight and we both had booked Tuesday off, so we could linger Monday evening and spend Tuesday together.

We had such a good day Tuesday too! We slept late, had eggs for breakfast (in the middle of the week?!) then headed out to some shops we never get to, just to look. We even had another Starbucks...this time trying the Gingerbread lattes (yum)...and then picked up Amanda from school and I made a special dinner at home to celebrate our anniversary as a family.

Last night, I really had a hard time though going to bed. I didn't want it to be over...nor to face the reality of work and its hectic-ness today, but here we are!

Boy those roses smell good! :)

Saying "I Do" Was the Best Thing I Ever Did!

Today is the third anniversary of the day I married Les! And in that three years, my life has seen more changes than I would have ever dreamed, but also, in that three years I have experienced more happiness than I knew possible! My husband is a man of character and committment who does more than his share to take care of his family. My partner is a man of humour and optimism (especially when it comes to me) who holds me up when I can't do it myself. My friend is the only man I could ever share all my secrets and dreams with and know that I am safe. I am so grateful for you, Les. I love you and adore you even more than on that day when we first said 'I do.'!

Overheard coming out of my daughter's mouth...



You hope that your children internalize the things you try to teach them...but you don't know for sure...until, that is, you overhear them say something like this:

"I just don't get why (name witheld to protect a friend) didn't study for her test?! When I have a test coming up it just doesn't feel right to be watching TV or playing if I haven't studied."

Not bad for 10:)

Encounter

Encounter was very good tonight. I think I finally let God begin to break through what I've been carrying as we sang 'Blessed be the name'. In the message, the image of hands really spoke to me...

It Depends on Whose Hands It Is In

A violin in my hands will make a screechy
noise
But a violin in a musician's hands will play
a masterpiece.
It all depends whose hands it's
in.

A basketball in my hands is worth about
$29.95
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is
worth about $33 million
It all depends whose hands it’s in

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6
A baseball in Mark Mcquire’s hands is
worth $19 million
It all depends whose hands it’s in

A tennis racket
is useless in my hands
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a Wimbledon
Championship
It all depends whose hands it’s in

A rod in my hands
will keep away a wild animal
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea
It all depends whose hands it’s in

A sling shot in my hands is a
kid’s toy
A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon…
It all
depends whose hands it’s in

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands
is a couple of fish sandwiches…
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s
hands will feed thousands
It all depends whose hands it’s in

Some mud and some spit in my hands makes a
mud-pie
But some mud and spit in Jesus' hands
restores sight to the blind
It all depends whose hand it's
in

Nails in my hands might produce a
birdhouse
Nails in Jesus’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world
It all depends whose hands it’s in

I have no idea who first penned this. I first heard it tonight from an African-American preacher in a film clip. It appears that he added several examples that weren't in the original version I found as I googled it just now, so I added those in from my memory of his words. The message I heard tonight was to put everything in His hands so that we can take our empty hands and lift them up to him and point to His power and His goodness. It's all better in His hands. The only hand we can give Him is ours pointing to Him.

The Truth IN Love

Oy, what a day, what a week I've been having?! So I just pressed pause for a moment and got myself a Starbucks and did a little catching up in the blog world. ...And I came upon this post of what it means to speak 'the truth in love'. Now, I don't know the writer, but she is on several of the blogrolls of people I do know, and what she wrote really resounds with me on this matter...here's an excert:

"Many times when a person evokes or employs "truth in love," the emphasis is placed more on the truth aspect of the message than the love. But that's not how the sentence itself is structured -- truth is in love, inside of it. Love is what is encompassing it, surrounding it -- which should effect how this truth is delivered.

Which leads me to my problem. Whenever I see an
injustice in the world, I want to remedy it ... but remedying it doesn't mean emphasizing what I see as the truth at the expense of love.

Anyone that knows me knows that I'm big on accountability. There are few things I despise
less than someone who's a hypocrite -- saying one thing, while intending (or doing) another. My drive for accountability needs to be balanced with a drive
for showing love -- or compassion (not pity) -- for whoever my opponent is. This is huge!

Both of these elements -- accountability and compassion -- have to be a part of my approach. Without accountability, my compassion could easily
slip into condoning of actions and a general sense of apathy to what is right and wrong. Yet without compassion, my drive for accountability (and justice) is
useless, because it gets me nowhere"
From grrrlmeetsworld.com

Now there's some truth IN love!

Sherri Needs...

As I was checking out some other blogs today, Christy had posted this little exercise. I found some of her results funny, so I tried it myself. Here are the instructions: "Go to Google and in quotation marks put your name and needs. Example if your name is Fred put "Fred needs" and press enter. Then share the 5 funniest hits."

I'm sharing the top hits in the order they came up...it's eerie how google knew the kind of week I've been having?!

• Sherri needs prayers
• Sherri needs a break
• Sherri needs to learn that they are not "wrong" and there are a multitude of ways of reading it
• Sherri needs support now
• Sherri needs to duck out
• Sherri needs a year off also
• Sherri needs to explore technology
• Sherri needs to sneak out too
• Sherri needs her bandmates
• Sherri needs to forget the world
• Sherri needs to talk
• Sherri needs to stay in the corner before she gets hurt

...and my personal favourite...

• Sherri needs much Marketing at this point anyway.

Work continues to be full of pressure and stress these days...your prayers are so appreciated!

For a break, I took a couple of quizzes about career and personality while I ate my lunch...

...and how I became a CA, still remains a mystery to me?!

Your Career Type: Social

You are helpful, friendly, and trustworthy. Your talents lie in teaching, nursing, giving information, and solving social problems. You would make an excellent: Counselor - Dental Hygienist - Librarian Nurse - Parole Officer - Personal Trainer Physical Therapist - Social Worker - Teacher The worst career options for your are realistic careers, like truck driver or farmer.

What's" Your Ideal Career?

What? ...no accountant on that list?! Shocking!! (I remember one personality quiz I took a while back that actually suggested that the last thing I should be is an accountant or finance manager! ...things that make you go, hmmm!)

Your Personality Is

Idealist (NF) You are a passionate, caring, and unique person. You are good at expressing yourself and sharing your ideals. You are the most compassionate of all types and connect with others easily. Your heart tends to rule you. You can't make decisions without considering feelings. You seek out other empathetic people to befriend. Truth and authenticity matters in your friendships. In love, you give everything you have to relationships. You fall in love easily. At work, you crave personal expression and meaning in your career. With others, you communicate well. You can spend all night talking with someone. As far as your looks go, you've likely taken the time to develop your own personal style. On weekends, you like to be with others. Charity work is also a favorite pastime of yours.

The'>http://www.blogthings.com/threequestionpersonalitytest/">The Three Question Personality Test

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Am Blessed

I had a hard time going to sleep last night...you see, I kept replaying in my mind all the things that need to get done at work. Things would be busy no matter what this time of year, but add to that the fact that two of my staff are off sick and what lies ahead of me next week is daunting... And yesterday I learned that my IS Manager will be off for at least another week, if not two (his situation has gotten worse).

Now my heart and prayers just go out for these people who are off sick and that tops my list of concerns right now. But I also can't help but feeling overwhelmed and that there is no way that I can do all that I need to get done next week...in particular, handling all the technical things that must be done in the IS Manager's absense (especially with my current workload). Please pray.

So in the midst of this, the Thanksgiving sermon I heard last night told me to find the blessing in the midst of this current struggle, and trust me, I am looking it, so I'm pausing for a moment to list out all of the things I'm thankful for right now:

- God's grace and love.
- My handsome husband whom I adore and how he love me.
- Our daughter and how her character is growing.
- Our health.
- Our extended family and the fact that most of us can see each other this Thanksgiving.
- Friends who have been so there for me.
- Our home.
- That we have jobs.
- Amanda's school and the friends that God has drawn to her.
- A new small group.
- Tea ...I think I'll go and have a cup before I get into my 'to do' list today:)

Tagged

Donna tagged me to go through my blog archives, find my 23rd posting and to paste the 5th sentence from it below. Here it is....

"I have so many memories of hours upon hours spent playing and imagining!"

Now I'm to tag 5 others to do the same...so here's the list:
Jackie R., Carrie C., Gloria R., Arilee H. and Cathy J. If you are reading this and are so inclined, what is the fifth sentence of your 23rd post? (Participation is completely optional:)

Well, I made it through the inventory count!! ...enough said (I do believe that work has taken up more than its fair share of time already this week).

Les is at work and Amanda is at Grandma's, so I had the house to myself to do my workout this morning, then I showered and headed out to get my hair cut. I love getting my hair cut, I'm not sure why? It could have something to do with the fact that I enjoy spending time with my hairdresser or the fact that it feels so good to have her massage my head or just that right now I feel pretty:) Whatever it is, I'll take it!

There sure is a fall chill in the air today, so I'm off to make some macchiato's for Les when he gets home! Enjoy the falling leaves:)

Three Wishes

Les and I taped the premier of this show last night. Then we watched it together after his evening shift, and we both loved it! In truth, I was in tears more than once during the show, touched and moved by the personal stories that were told. I think what encouraged me most was seeing everyday-folk be inspired and join in in reaching out to one another:)

Grant's Wish
"It's a teaching tool," Grant says. "Yes, it's a television show, and we are using network dollars, sponsorship dollars, to do a good thing for people. But we live in an age where
people are not connecting the way they used to, not meeting each others' needs
on a basic level. My hope, when I first went to NBC -- I just said I hope that
people see this show and feel inspired to reinvest. That's my hope, that people
are re-energized."

After shooting several episodes, the recording artist and TV host says she has already seen that hope realized, to some extent, just among the people she and her team have met in the towns the show has visited. While only three wishes are chosen for each town out of however many hundreds or thousands are presented, Grant says many times other wishes get granted off camera and behind the scenes, as a result of people
coming together to share their needs. "

Weekend Update

Friday was the third anniversary of the day my amazing husband proposed to me! :) And so we got a sitter and had a date-night to celebrate! Les took me to see the premiere of Just Like Heaven followed by macchiato's at Starbucks and book-browsing at McNally's...an awesome date-night if I do say so myself!! When I saw the previews for the movie, I was a little unsure about whether I wanted to see it. On the one hand, it was a romantic comedy (my favourite type of show!), but on the other hand, the previews seemed to suggest it somehow dealt with the issue of the afterlife in a way that I may possibly object to. As it was the premiere showing, there was no way for me to check out what others thought, so we just gave it a shot and went to the movie. And I'd have to say that it was one of the best movies I've seen in a while! It wasn't a typical, predictable story, it had some interesting twists and turns. And in the end, yes, I was in tears (as is often the case with a good love story...*sigh*) You can check out Carolyn Arends' review of the movie here if you're interested.

Saturday, we had Amanda's friend, Steph, over for a play-date and supper and then we all headed off to Church for the carnival. Amanda and her friend had a blast!

Then on Sunday we went to my inlaws for lunch and then out to Bridge City Speedway to see this year's championship races! It's been a long time since Les had a weekend off like this and we were able to do so much together...I loved it!

Jewels

Most people who know me personally have heard me talk at one time or another about the 'jewels' God gives me. Sometimes they have been rewards for obedience and sometimes (often) they have been completely unmerited on my part. All of the time though they are affirmations of His love. I confess though that sometimes when I don't slow down my life enough I miss out on seeing His hand on me in that way. That's something I feel I need to confess today.

Roses in my heart is the name of this blog, but it really falls out of a much bigger story that has to do with God's woo-ing of me, and how many times He's shown me His love through roses, a jewel that so hits this romantic heart of mine. I don't have the time to tell the full story here, but let me just give you a bit of background. You see, when I was a single girl, before God "turned my waiting into dancing", He used to send me roses regularly. Many of my married friends would even comment to me that although I was single I received them more often than any of the married women they knew! God knew this over-romantic heart of mine though and He knew just how to woo me. Roses have had a big significance in that...not only the receiving of them, but the learning through them, the experiences in gardens, etc.

Flash forward a few years and I'm a wife and a mother and He has given me so much more that I could even ask or imagine. But in truthfulness, I'd have to say that I don't have much time for myself these days and this week has been an even bigger example of that. You see, work is very hectic right now. And when extra is called for at work, I usually end up not taking proper lunches or breaks because I can't just stay late every day like I would when I was single. I have a daughter to be home for after school and a husband who works shiftwork. Well, without going to all the details, let's just say that this week I was running day and night and the lack of down time was definitely wearing on me.

My plans for this evening were to race home from work (I had to leave before a meeting I was part of even came to end), heat up the supper I prepared the night before and wisk Amanda off to her worship dance class all by 5:15 (Les is working this evening). Then while she was dancing, go to the store and pick up the things we need around the house (you would not believe how much milk we go through?!)

Anyway, so as not to make a long story too much longer, let me tell you God's plans for me tonight... get my attention after dropping Amanda at dance, woo me to Starbucks and treat me to a carmel macchiato (no fat and no sugar) and an almond biscotti (which was even balanced carb-wise) with a Mary Engelbreit magazine and some time alone to just relax. As I dipped my biscotti in my coffee it dawned on me how many free Starbucks treats I seem to get these days (all with their own stories) and I saw God's fingerprints all over it! What I need is some down time from time to time and God, knowing what I need, has been wooing me this way. What a jewel?!

Well Amanda's off to bed now, I've done some laundry and finished my workout, but rather than just quickly wash off and get back to the laundry I'm going to linger a bit longer and have a bubble bath right now and enjoy what I am learning. I feel a bit guilty though, did I mention that I forgot to pick up the milk?!! Oh well, hopefully there's enough there to get us through breakfast! I won't think about that right now though, I'm just going to get my tea, some candles and some bubbles. G'night y'all:)

Starbucks is on my side:)

Work has been crazy busy for too many reasons for me to go into here, but let's just all agree that I deserved the Starbucks I treated myself today, ok?! So I'm working away, sipping my Starbucks when the inspirational saying on the cup catches my eye:

The Way I See It #63
"Our lives are inspired by the dreams we have from the earliest stages of our youth. When you combine passion and hard work, then success is always possible. While no road is ever straight, dedication and persistence will always lead you toward your dreams."

Add in about faith, God's will and prayer, and that pretty much sums up the essence of what we try to teach Amanda. See, Starbucks is on my side, now if I could get the teachers there!

_____
OK, I can't end this post without making sure that anyone reading this blog knows that on most things I have total respect for ALL of the teachers Amanda has had. They have all been gifted educators with a heart for children and learning, so if I come off as though I'm dissing them, I'm not, it's just this candy-method and over-rewarding expected behavior that I question. But let me just say that being a teacher must be such a tough job these days and I SO admire those doing it. It was my dream growing up, so I will always have such a soft spot for teachers:)

Royalty Trumps Conspiracy!

Yesterday during handwriting class, Amanda's teacher told Amanda that she was "the Queen of handwriting" as she passed by her desk and reviewed her work, and then, in front of the whole class, she said, "Yes, when Amanda was first born, I'm sure her mother held her in her arms and looked into her eyes and said, 'you will be a Queen I tell you, the Queen of handwriting!' " Evan, the often teasing boy who sits beside Amanda, grabbed her book to see for himself, and then he affirmed, "You are! You are the Queen of handwriting!"

Amanda beamed when she told me about this this morning. I, of course, confirmed that she does have beautiful handwriting, to which she replied (unaware of my blog-post from yesterday), "Mom, when the teacher called me the Queen of handwriting that was way better than getting candy!" I, of course, agreed....you see, royalty does trump conspiracy with my daughter:)

It's a Conspiracy!

In our home, we try so hard to make healthy choices for our family and set a good example for our daughter when it comes to eating and exercise, hoping that one day she will choose so on her own. We don't obsess about this, but we do try and live it out... And this means that Amanda doesn't get candies and chocolate bars EVERY day. Those are once-in-a-while treats. Oh trust me, she gets plenty of her favourite things, but in moderation, and we really try to make sure that she doesn't get a message that 'food is love'. We'd rather her feel loved by the way we care for her each day...the time we spend together as a family (special times and just every day times like supper at the table together every night or prayers together before bed every night), words of affirmation and love spoken consistently and often lavishly, and the way we serve each other as a family. But tonight I've decided that the rest of the world is all against us! Look at the teachers for one, they reward everything and anything they can throughout the day with candy and chocolate bars, and the Church is even in on it too?! I wish they would think about the message that this is sending. I mean, often they reward what should be expected behavior (like listening when the teacher is talking) with extra candy, and I just really think that food as a reward on a repeated basis sends a dangerous message. Is it just me, or do you worry about this too?

Oooh this looks so good! I'm going to have to go out and get my copy this weekend:)

Sunrise Apples

It is officially autumn! I found sunrise apples in the grocery store this week. These are my favourite!! Juicy, soft, sweet apples that I can only find in the store for a short time each fall. Why, oh why, can't we have sunrise apples all year?!

Rainy Day Treat

It was a rainy and cooler day today. Les was up before six and off to work. I did my workout and a bit of scrapbooking (since the housework had already been done this weekend:) Amanda and I hung out and talked about books she's reading and ways we could redecorate her room. Then this afternoon, we had her friend Britney over for a play-date, and now, over two hours later, I still hear their excited voices creating new story-lines for their Beanie Boppers to act out! Those giggles and gushes are music to my ears:)

Amanda's having a friend over also meant a bit of time to myself for me - because they always play so well together, so I decided to do some experimenting and make a treat for when Les came home from work. There seemed to be a bit of a chill in the air, so I thought I'd try something hot...too bad Starbucks isn't closer, I thought, I could get us some Carmel Macchiato's. Well, since it was pouring out and I didn't want to drag out my two girlies who were so happily playing, I set up the kitchen to try and make my own macchiatos...and they turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself:) ...so here's the recipe:


Carmel Macchiato's a la Sherri (good, but not as good as Starbucks, of course:)

vanilla syrup (we have the sugar free from Starbucks)
skim milk
espresso (I brewed half a pot of Starbucks expresso beans in my coffee pot...double strength)
carmel sauce

In each mug, put 1 tablespoon of sugar free vanilla syrup. Boil some skim milk in the microwave while the coffee is brewing. Use a milk frother (my latest purchase from IKEA!) in the the boiled milk when you take it out. Pour one cup of steamed milk into each mug. Use the frother in each mug to mix the milk with the vanilla syrup. Spoon some milk foam on top of milk mixture in each mug. Pour 1/2 cup of espresso in each mug over the milk mixture...the foam will rise to the top. Drizzle a bit of carmel sauce on top and enjoy! ...Les & I sure did this afternoon:)

Espresso beans from Starbucks - FREE
Milk frother from IKEA - $1.99
Enjoying a rainy day treat in the arms of my husband - PRICELESS!!

First Hillary Duff, then The Queen and now The Prime Minister of Canada...

...it's been quite the year for Miss Amanda! As you'll recall Amanda got treated to the Hillary Duff concert back in January. Then in the spring she had the opportunity to attend the Centennial Gala and see the Queen, and now she's going to meet the Prime Minister of Canada! The school called yesterday with the news that as an honour student she has been invited to have breakfast with the Prime Minister on Friday! She's thrilled beyond thrilled and has been thinking up questions that she might want to ask him (if she feels brave enough!)

This morning was registration for school. Amanda's going into Grade 5, and somehow I had us in the Grade 4 line...where does the time go?! Anyway once we straightened that out, I met her (likely) teacher, and for the first time it's a man?!! He seems very nice as does his TA! And given the amount of prayer we've sent up over the matter of who her teacher would be, I'm eager to see what God has in store for her with this talented duo this year:)

Spoiled!

She just got back from a 7+ week vacation! I haven't gone on vacation yet this year, but we may get a few days off soon...so I'll live vicariously through her in the meantime:) Yesterday we saw some of the pictures and heard some of the stories:) It is always intriguing to learn what different people choose to see and do when they go places. And she brought me something(s!) back...6 (!!) different fabrics (2 of which are Mary Engelbreit!!!) and some scrapbooking supplies!! Boy do I feel spoiled?!! Thanks again, you really shouldn't have...but I'm so tickled you did! :)

A Rational Fear

Yesterday I labeled my fear of falling on the ice as an 'irrational one', and today I'm back to say that I've reconsidered and have decided that it is a completely rational fear for me. You see, when I'm on skates I feel completely out of my comfort zone and out of control. I feel as if I could fall at any moment. And below me is this hard cold ice that doesn't seem pleasant to fall on. Furthermore, I never learned to skate when I was a child and more adaptable and limber. So I've re-categorized it...it's a rational fear!

I'll still keep trying to learn, but IT IS A RATIONAL FEAR!

(There, (sigh), my feeler-heart feels so much better now:)

I Got Skates!

...that's right, it's August, and my husband just finished buying me a new pair of skates?! Talk about a zealous man!!

Friday night we had a 'date-night' to celebrate a recent accomplishment of Les' at work (Way to go, Baby, I'm still SO proud of you!!), and in between the dinner and the movie, on bended knee, he tried skate after skate on my foot... (yeah, he knows how to make me feel like a princess!:)

You see, he hasn't given up on the idea of us romantically skating togeher as a couple (despite the fact that I'm still not a fluent skater and have this irrational fear of falling on the ice!), and the skates I inherited from years gone by not only do not fit right, but are horribly uncomfortable. Les says that a new pair of top of the line CCM's will fix that, and that this is the best time of year to buy skates because you can get last year's top of the line model at a discount as this year's versions begin to be released. So now I have a pair of Sale and Pelletier's that I've been walking around our family room in this weekend.... (The things we do for love:)

p.s. We had a great date night! ...tried out a new sitter with Amanda, who was wonderful ...had a great meal at Tony Romas ...saw a romantic comedy (Must Love Dogs) ...and capped off the evening with Carmel Macchiatos at Starbucks! ...who could ask for more?! :)

Biking Shorts

Our biking shorts arrived!! (And no, I'm not posting of picture of us in them!) We had no sooner opened the package on Friday than we put them on and took them out for a test ride. Wow, what an improvement?!!

We've been riding our bikes a fair bit this summer, but were getting tired of walking like c'boys when we were done. We tried an array of gel seats to no avail. So Les set out to find some good biking shorts, and in truth, there was really nothing much to be had around here, so I set about researching them on the internet and found an AeroDesign company that makes pro-biking shorts with different designs built for men and women. We did some finageling on price and shipping and saved about $40 in total. The shorts arrived within a week of ordering them and work wonderfully!!

Now at the beginning of this all I had such mis-givings about the whole idea and told Les that I couldn't see myself wearing them, but he said he could ;), and after this weekend, I tell ya, I wouldn't be without them! :)

Let me see...

...let me see, what HAVE we been doing lately?

- One night we headed to Long & McQuade for a look-a-bout. This was my second time in the new store, and I really like it!
- Last Friday night Les and I went to the races. I'm amazed at how many drivers I either know or know of?! I bbq'd some salmon for supper first and then when we got home we were treated to a Northern Lights show from our deck! (I love it!!)
- Visited with both sides of the family.
- Facilitated a lot of 'play-dates' for Miss Amanda.
- Yard work, house work, a walk or two and bike riding.
- Became a second cousin again (my youngest cousin, Crystal had a baby boy, Dominic...he's over 9 lbs and 23 inches...why give birth to a baby when you can give birth to a toddler?! :)

It's amazing how fast the summer seems to be going by. Les has been working a lot, but it looks like we're going to have 4 days off as a family together later this month, so I'm looking forward to that! We're loving our yard a lot this summer, but lately have been plagued with a few un-invited guests on our deck at supper-time...wasps! We can't seem to find a hive/nest, so I don't know where they are coming from, but a couple of them seem to like my cooking, so we're looking for ideas of how we can deter them from the deck at meal-time (any and all thoughts are welcome:)

And on a completely unrelated note, last night I caught a few minutes of 'Crossroads' before Les got home from work. I was flipping around and paused when I heard a familiar song coming out of Martina McBride's mouth...it was 'Promises in the Dark', and then out came Pat Benatar to sing it with her! The whole show was the two of them doing each other's songs, and it was so good! When I was a little girl, my brother was mostly grown and had this big stereo and quite a collection of rock music. I used to borrow his records and then give concerts of my own, often singing Pat Benatar's hits, so seeing this pairing on Crossroads was such a hoot to me! And it turns out Martina McBride used to do the same thing as me?! She says that singing Benatar tunes in her bedroom is probably where she developed her vocal range. The highlight for me though was probably hearing Benatar sing the chorus from McBride's 'Independence Day'. It rocked! It was such a strange but interesting pairing of the rocker and the country star, but these two women have so much in common...they are strong intelligent women with strong voices, both with real partnerships in marriage and both with daughters. I didn't get to see the whole show, but it certainly put Suzi Rawn's reprise of a Benatar song on Idol last week in it's place...that was just all 'Raw'g! (in my humble opinion:)

As I read this piece of prose today, I couldn't help but think of my handsome husband and what we share together...


Now we feel no rain,
for each of us will be shelter to the other.
Now we feel no cold,
for each of us will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness,
for each of us will be a companion to the other.
We are two bodies,
but there is one life before us and one home.
When evening falls,
I'll look up and there you will be.
I'll take your hand;
you'll take mine and we'll turn together
To look at the road we traveled to reach this - the hour of our happiness. It stretches behind us,
even as the future lies ahead.
A long and winding road,
whose every turn means discovery.
Old hopes, new laughter, shared fears.
The adventure has just begun.

God is good!!

Gotta Love Starbucks!

OK, I know it's a bit over-priced, but I have to admit a weakness for the occasional treat from Starbucks! This spring, Les and I got a Duetto card and now we earn points toward free Starbucks stuff, which certainly helps! I can't even remember the last time I PAID for a coffee:) And to top that off, the other day when I was in there getting some light fraps for Les and I, they gave me a half pound of the coffee of my choice just for using my Starbucks card! Also when we brought the mail in on the weekend, they had sent us a coupon to have one of their new treats (three different green tea products) on them! All this, and a couple of weeks ago they sent us a postcard thanking us for our business and giving us more $s to spend on our Starbucks card! There must be a catch?! ...the people are even friendly when you go in to order your drinks!! ...and a few weeks ago, when they were having a problem with one of their machines, they gave me a free macchiato just to make sure my 'flavour experience' was the best!! And you know, another thing I like, is that they have healthier options for people's different ways of eating. I order everything non-fat and it's still delicious! My favourite picks are (hot) the grande carmel macchiato, no fat, no sugar, and (cold) the grande light carmel frappucino...mmmm! Gotta love Starbucks!