Thirteen Things I want to do more if I ever get the time...

1. Scrapbook
2. Play piano
3. Sew
4. Go out with my husband
5. Travel
6. Read
7. Finish my ministry education
8. Paint our front door
9. Reorganize the computer room
10. Redecorate the spare room downstairs
11. Be more consistent about practicing the tin whistle
12. Write out the rest of my favourite recipes that I've altered in my recipe organizer
13. Write a book

Credit for the beautiful banner above goes to Denise

Leave your link in comments; I’ll add you here!
* TNChick * Kimmy * Wystful * Katherine * Lauren * Yellow Rose * Pink Chihuahua * Karin * Amanda * Musical Mom * Susan * Caryn * Courtney * Tanya * Melanie * Natalie * Leesa * Matt * Emily * Skittles *

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Is It OK If I Rant Here?!

I can't really speak about the details here as it wouldn't be appropriate, but can I ask you this...why is it that some people (usually men) cannot understand that age can be a sensitive subject for some people (usually women)? (And that as a result, it is usually best to NEVER ask a woman her age!)

Now, for the most part, I think I'm usually at ease with my own age, but I know that that isn't always the case for everyone at every season in their lives, and I know there have been times when I have been sensitive...like, for example, when I turned 30 and was not married yet. Somehow I had always thought I would have been married by when I turned that magical number, but ce la vive, God had other plans for me... But still, having lived a few years as a single woman over 25 and then over 30 in the Church, I know that that is not an easy place to be, so I am especially sensitive to others in that place. Recently though, I could not make a man I know understand this fact when he was pressing about someone else's age, and in the aftermath of it, he actually said something that made me uncomfortable about my own age too...well, not my own age actually...he was talking about the age of a friend of mine, and I'm actually quite a bit younger than her, but I felt my own sensitivity rise when he lumped me into that catgory...you see, my friend will be turning 40 this year. Now I know that age is only a number, and that 40 isn't a bad number at that...they even say that 40 is the new 30, but I'm not ready to be it yet, so I didn't want this fella rushing me. My husband tells me that I barely look 30, but he's probably a bit biased, but the real reason behind my sensitivity on this one has something in common with what I felt when I was approaching 30... You see, we are hoping to conceive...and each year closer to 40 decreases the chances of that statistically, and so, I'm in NO hurry to do that. So please just give me my couple more years and try not to rush me because just as surely as it isn't easy for a for a single woman over 25 or 30, it isn't easy for a hopeful mom over 35.

OK, rant over. Please tell me I'm not crazy, because I surely could not get my point across to the fella I mentioned above!

Who Am I? ...and Great are YOU!

Well something awful happened at work at the end of last week and though I've tried to pray through it and let it go, I'm still reliving it and it is now Monday morning, and I don't want to go to work even though the person involved should long be gone. I'm praying for God's protection because of the sting of this person's words, and at the same time I'm praying for God's best for them and trying to forgive what happened. It's not easy living life 'downhere'.

One particularly bright spot to this past weekend was learning a new song though. Here are the words I'm thinking about this morning...

Great Are You
by Downhere

How I love Your works
My God, My King
How I love Your works
My God, My King

Your Name rings on the plains
Like a not so distant train
And Love and history are near
In the flowers that you make
The flowers that you make

CHORUS

Because I'll never hold the picture
Of the whole horizon in my view
Because I'll never rip the night in two
It makes me wonder
Who am I, Who am I, Who am I
And great are you

How I love Your Word
My God, My King
How I love Your Word
My God, My King

Your love cuts through these pages to my heart
As you grieve our sins, right from the start
And sacrifice and paradise are in
The plans that you made, The plans that you made
Chorus (2x)

Thirteen Places I've Never Been that I Would Like to Go To

1. Paris in the springtime - I've dreamt about this since I was a young girl. I imagine sipping cappucinos at a sidewalk cafe, strolling over bridges in the mist, driving along the country side, visiting museums....

2. Ireland - my husband says that we will eventually honeymoon there...and even spend a night or two in a castle!

3. Nashville Tennessee - it's the home of many kinds of music, and my husband would add.. it's the home of the Gibson guitar factory.

4. The Maritimes - I've wanted to visit PEI ever since I first read Anne of Green Gables as a girl. I imagine visiting pubs, great music and dancing...and seafood!

5. Norway (or Switzerland or Sweden) - it just looked SO picturesque when the Winter Olympics were there.

6. Canmore, Alberta - I've heard it is just so pretty.

7. Orchards and wine country in B.C. - a sample of Icewine along the way sounds good to me:)

8. Scotland - my maternal grandmother's family was from there (and was somehow related the Queen mum even!)

9. England - my maternal grandad's family was from there.

10. Austria - my paternal grandparents were from there.

11. Quebec - if I can't get to France...maybe the Canadian version will do?!

12. Florence - it sounds romantic, doesn't it?!

13. The delivery room.

Credit for the banner goes to Novelist in Training

Leave your link in comments; I’ll add you here!
* Susie * Undercover Angel * TN Chick* Dawn * Lauren * Lady * Ardice * Leesa * Kelly * Kimmy * Daisy * Matt *

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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Book Recommendations, Please

I'm looking for the next book I'm going to read... I've been kind of caught up in Brennan Manning of late and am re-reading his book, Ruthless Trust. There are some passages in the first chapter that I just can't get past... He is describing his experience as a child and it's so much like a mirror for me...feelings I've worked through and gotten past before and even some that I guess I've never acknowledged... they are there so fresh everytime I read it. Manning's premise in writing the book is this:

"The splendor of a human heart that trusts that it is loved unconditionally gives God more pleasure than Westminster Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, the sight of 10,000 butterflies in flight, or the scent of a million orchids in bloom. Trust is our gift back to God, and he finds it so enchanting that Jesus died for love of it."

All through the book Manning keeps reminding that God loves us as we ARE not as we should be. It's a good book.

Tonight Amanda and I are meeting my friend Caroline at McNally for a visit and some browsing. I think I'm going to look for the next book I'm going to devour. Do you have any suggestions?

Love and Fear

Last night Les and I caught most of the movie First Knight which was on TV. In one of the scenes King Arthur says to Lancelot, "A man who fears nothing is a man who loves nothing, and if that is so, then what joy is there in your life?"

I agree that without love in our lives there would be no joy, but I'm not so sure what I think about the link between fear and love?

The Bible says that "Perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18) And yet it also says that we are not only to love God, but to fear him... ("The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." Ps 111:10) Possibly it's a matter of symantics and usage of words. What do you think?

Happy St. Patty's Day All!

The Irish Stew is in the Crockpot and the green parfaits are in the fridge, and when Les gets home from work I'm making Irish Cream Mocha's for us to enjoy! How are you celebrating St. Patty's Day?

Oh, and in honour of the day, I took this test...What Colour Green are YOU?

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks. Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.

What Color Green Are You?

Blessed

We've been studying the Be-attitudes in our small group. Each of them start with the word 'blessed'... "blessed are you when..." Back in high school I was taught to interpret that word 'blessed' to mean 'happy'...as in, "happy are you when..." However, in my own reading of the Be-attitudes, I still don't see how those 'blesseds' can be interpreted as 'happy' necessarily...

Happy are you when you are poor in spirit?
Happy are you when you mourn?
Happy are you when you are persecuted?

Hmmm... I just don't think so! Those things are unlikely to make me FEEL happy... And so I've been learning that those 'blesseds' really have nothing to do with how I feel...in fact, they aren't about MY perceptions, feelings or situations at all really...they are about how God views me.

I've heard a Pastor at our church preach that those 'blesseds' are more akin to saying something like "congratulations, you lucky bum!"

Congratulations when you are poor in spirit
Congratulations when you mourn ...etc.

Why be congratulated? Because you are living in the kingdom of God...and the kingdom of the world is upside down... when you realize things like the fact that you are poor in spirit (spiritually bankrupt except for the love and grace of God), then you are finally flying right side up...congratulations, you lucky bum!

I like to interpret those 'blesseds' a little different from that though even. So much of my life has been spent seeking the approval of others...wanting to please them, sometimes with honourable motives (and sometimes with selfish ones), so when I read those 'blesseds' I read them something like this:

You are approved by God when you realize that you are poor in spirit.
You are approved by God when you mourn that this world and life is not as it should be
You are approved by God when you are meek and let God be God ....etc.

It has nothing to do with how I FEEL, but rather realizing how God FEELS about me, and that, my friends, makes all the difference!

We just got back from our daughter's school assembly, where Amanda received the Honour Roll for the second year in a row! In honour of this very bright and hard working girl that God gave us, I give you...

THIRTEEN THINGS ABOUT MY DAUGHTER

1. My nickname for her is DOLLY because I've always had a thing for dolls (rag dolls in particular) and she is just a LIVING DOLL.

2. She just turned 11 years old and is in grade 5.

3. She's already 5 feet tall (almost as tall as me! ...she takes after my hubby who's 6'4")

4. She's involved in worship dance and is beautiful to watch!

5. She's also involved in choir and loves to sing.

6. She loves to read and is currently in the middle of the complete Chronicles of Narnia!

7. She's very loving and often surprises me with sweet little notes/cards/pictures to remind me of her love:)

8. Her favourite colour is pink, and she loves all things girly!

9. She doesn't like boys at all ;) ...well Rex Goudie is kinda cute...she's been playing his cd a lot lately.

10. She loves Hilary Duff and we have a standing date to go to all of her movies!

11. She just got her ears pierced and has been very responsible about cleaning them!

12. She's got all kinds of cool friends and she is a very good friend to them!

13. She has the funkiest pink/purple/turquois room ever complete with furry rug, a plethora of throw pillows and a mega sized bean-bag chair! ...and it all suits her so well! :)

Credit for the banner goes to Novelist in Training

Leave your link in comments; I’ll add you here!

* Carmen * Denise * TNChick * Dawn * Kelly * Daisy * Nancy * Leesa * Chickadee *

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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Back to BE-ing

This is a recurrent theme if you know me...that we are human BE-ings not human DO-ings...and the resulting thoughts of where our value comes from... Today I ran across a most excellent quote from Thomas Merton that spoke to this well:

"We are so obsessed with doing that we have no time and no imagination left for being. As a result, men are valued not for what they are but for what they do or what they have-for their usefulness."

Baby, Baby

I heard from my friend Lynn, in Chicago today! She's going to have a baby in July (which I've known about for a while and been praying about!) and will be coming here for a visit at the end of April!! These are very exciting times for Lynn and her husband, and I'm living a bit vicariously through her experience. Today I learned that they think that the baby is a girl based on the ultrasound...so I'm going to be auntie again to a niece! Lynn's going to be a great mom...her child will be so loved...of this I am sure!

It seems to be a time for babies...we recently found out that a couple in our small group is also expecting! Babies are such a sweet blessing!

Thirteen (er, um, I mean Three) Things that made me laugh this week...

...sorry for the short list today folks...things have been spinning too fast of late! Back to the list though...things that have made me laugh this week:

1. Mr. Clean - no, I don't mean the white haired fella from the cleaning commercials...Mr. Clean is our affectionate nickname for our neighbour across the street who is meticulous about how he keeps things! Mr. Clean is actually a very good kind of neighbour to have, but this week he had us all scratching our heads... You see, earlier this week we got another BIG dump of snow, so it was no surprise to see him out with his snow-blower, shovel and ice pick that night. He always clears his driveway right down to the pavement, but when I came home from work the next day to see him out there with a pail and mop washing his drive-way, I about split a gut. Now, if you're not from around here, you need to realize that we have snowbanks that are taller than me in our front yard right now and that on the particular day in question it had warmed up a bit and so there was a bit of snow melt that had melted onto the streets which had been sanded by the city to help make them less icy, so when I got home it was impossible to even drive without spraying up a bit of muck with your tires...you know, the sort of day when it is impossible to even keep your car clean...and here I turn the corner and there is Mr. Clean out mopping his drive-way?! Quite a picture:) ...and did I mention, it snowed again later that night?!

2. This morning my husband, who has the day off, entered the kitchen for breakfast with a pair of sweats and a t-shirt on...which was not unusual morning attire on a day where he plans to do a workout; however, having his shirt tucked into the sweats and the sweats pulled up quite high on his waist was. When I commented on his most-fetching outfit, he commented that he was inspired by seeing Barishnakov on TV with me the other night...and then he proceeded to balletically leap around the kitchen:)

3. Lately there have been several times when I have come to work and someone is in my parking spot. My name is supposed to be on my parking spot to reduce the chance of this, but my employer hasn't gotten around to this yet... Well, anyway, yesterday I couldn't find any alternate parking in our lot, so I had to go out to the street and basically park on a snowbank. I was very careful when parking to make sure I would later be able to get out of the spot without getting stuck and I parked in a spot where no one could park behind me because of a driveway. However, at the end of the day when I went to leave work, someone HAD parked behind me, and I ended up getting stuck trying to pull out of the snowbank. At supper, I expressed my frustration to my husband who came up with a very practical solution... I need a pilon?! Yes, that's right, my very own pilon! Then, when I leave my parking spot at work, I need to place this pilon in my spot thus ensuring that people know this spot is reserved for me. Les even suggested that in addition to my name that the pilon specify my degree, designation, title and other pertinent information so people KNOW not to mess with my spot! Too cute:)

So since this list only contains 3...why don't you fill in the other 10...leave me a comment about something that made YOU laugh this week!

Oh, and credit for the banner above goes to Denise...isn't it lovely?! :)

If you leave me a comment, I'll link you below:

(list of other TT's)

Dawn

Denise

Yellow Rose

Chickadee

A Tribute to June Carter Cash

So we watched some of the Oscars last night, and I was pleased when Reese Witherspoon won for best actress (if you haven't seen Walk the Line, I'd strongly recommend it). In her acceptance speech, Reese paid tribute to June Carter Cash by saying, she was “a real woman who has dignity and honor and fear and courage...People used to ask June how she was doing, and she would say, 'I'm just trying to matter'. I know what she means." -- I know what she means too!

Since seeing the movie at New Year's, I've done a little bit of research into June's life and I just really admire that woman...and many of the things she's been quoted as saying ring true with me (like the quote about mattering above). I've read that her step-daughter Roseanne Cash once said that "if marriage were a corporation, then June would be the CEO." I guess that's the biggest thing that sticks out to me about June is about how she lived out her love of her husband. Here are a few more quotes from June:

I chose to be Mrs. Johnny Cash in my life. I decided I'd allow him to be
Moses and I'd be Moses' brother Aaron, picking his arms up and padding along
behind him.

I stayed in submission to my husband, and he allowed me to do anything I
wanted to. I felt like I was lucky to have that kind of romance.

I was never looking back in regret. I never thought, Oh, why didn't I
become an actress? or Why did I just go paddling along after John? I've always
walked along right by his side, and he's always supported everything I do.

I worked with John, but I had enough sense to walk just a little ways
behind him. I could have made more records, but I wanted to have a marriage.

Today I learned some sad-sad news about a co-worker of mine. His wife, who was his world, passed away. Please join me in praying for him and their two small children in the days ahead. There are no words for times like these. Father, hold them, carry them... Thirteen Things I'm Thankful For... 1. God's love, grace and mercy. That He thinks about me at all and that He listens when I (we) pray.2. The husband God gave me...the man that he is, his love...I could not ask for more. He is the best part of me.3. My living doll of a daughter, so darling.4. The friends God has put in my life who have been there for me, always encouraging and praying.5. Our extended family...that we can live in the same city and see each other regularly...and that our daughter has both sets of grandparents around loving her (even if it borders on spoiling some days;)6. That I can work...even though there are days where it's a struggle to do what I do...it's a blessing that I can work and that God has enabled me to have a 60% time job.7. My health, my husband's health and my daughter's...something to never take for granted.8. Creation's call (whether it be the blanket of snow that fell this week and how it twinkles or the living sky around me..."endless blue horizon's frame")9. Music in me and around me...whether it be my husband strumming the guitar or my heart singing, I'm thankful that God gave us song.10. Our home...that there is a place that is more than four walls and a ceiling where we can build a house of love.11. Hugs and kisses...and more of the same.12. That I have a soft place to fall when I need it.13. That I get to share some time with my hubby at Starbucks tonight while my daughter dances. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Daisy, Denise, Dawn Leesa (I love that spelling, don't you?!), Virenda, Ann, Yellow Rose, Chickadee

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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Beautiful

...that's a tough word for me somedays...one I struggle with wanting to apply to me somedays, and yet, one I have trouble accepting being applied to me at all. In a worldly sense, it can be a troublesome word.

When we were at Breakforth this year, we got the chance to worship with and learn from Tim Hughes, who wrote the worship song "Beautiful One". Now, God and the word beautiful go together perfectly...and yet it's such a different use of the word 'beautiful' than the world lifts up...well, the same AND different, both.

Tim is from London and has this most excellent English accent, so when he pronounces 'beautiful', it stands out to me... most folks around here pronounce it 'bEUdiful'...but Tim sings out 'bEUTiful one'...and my soul was touched by his devotion on that song today...


Beautiful One
by Tim Hughes

The first moment of inspiration for the song Beautiful One came whilst I was reading through some passages in Isaiah. A verse in Isaiah 53:2 particularly jumped out at me:

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”

These prophetic verses about Jesus are amazing - to think that the all-powerful and glorious Son of God would make Himself nothing and walk upon the earth as an ordinary human being. Jesus had no exceptional human features that would make Him stand out as someone special, as someone of worth. However for those who call Jesus, Savior, for those whose eyes have seen, we know just how beautiful Jesus truly is. When our eyes have been opened, our hearts will be captivated and no earthly beauty or pleasure will ever compare.

“You opened my eyes to your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
Because nothing on earth is as beautiful as you”

It’s a wonderful truth to know that until we meet God in heaven face to face, there will always be more of Him to discover. There will be more of His beauty, His majesty, His mercy and His power to drink in. Whilst we live on this earth we will never fully understand all that God has in store for us. Read these words in 1 Corinthians 2:9,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

We see in part. We catch glimpses; but until we stand face to face before the Lord we will never fully understand just how glorious and beautiful He is. Our small human minds have no way of ever comprehending how incredible that moment will be. The greatest experience we could have on the face of the earth will pale in comparison to that awesome day. We will tremble before His greatness. We will be overwhelmed by His glory. We will be transfixed by His beauty. Forever and a day our souls will sing ‘Beautiful One.’

“My Soul my soul must sing
My Soul my soul must sing
My Soul my soul must sing
Beautiful One”

Weekend Update

I can't believe that I haven't posted since Thursday, but life has been eventful...

On Friday, Amanda turned 11!! ...and we hosted the first ever Amanda-Idol competition complete with 8 contestants! Selections from Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Shania Twain, Superchick and the Dixie Chicks were performed...there were air band performances and karaoke...followed by pizza, pop and ice cream cake...all in all the girls had a blast, and Amanda proclaimed, "This was the best birthday party ever!!" This is one of the few situations where I wish I had a digital camera so I could post some pictures of the girlies-groovin'...but alas, I haven't even dropped the film off for developing yet! But trust me, they were an exuberant group of girls who danced, sang, affirmed one another and talked about boys! Seacrest out!

We had another bday celebration for Amanda on Sunday...this time a family one at Granny & Gramps, and tonight we are headed to East Side Mario's with Nana and Papa for more bday festivities...boy that girl of ours is loved!!

It's hard for me to believe that Amanda is 11 already...it was just yesterday that I was planning her princess party for her 8th bday, and the day after that was the unicorn one for her 9th...it's just a blink ago that they were all DIVA's for her 10th bday and here she is 11!! 11 and quite a young lady...a good friend, respectful, sure of herself, bright, imaginative, sensitive and fun! I'm so enjoying these days with my Dolly...all the changes and growth...she blows me away:) And I'm so thankful for the friends that God has brought into her life. There were a couple at the party that I didn't know as well yet, and they turned out to be treasures like all of the others:) Thanks God!

Thirteen Things about My Husband 1. When I met him, his favourite colour was orange. 2. He's a talent musician...plays guitar (electric, acoustic and bass) and mandolin. 3. He drove a bad boy black camaro when I first met him. 4. He now drives a cool vanilla PT cruiser...more practical for the family, but still has that bad boy edge! 5. He's almost as addicted to Starbucks as I am...his fav is cafe mocha! 6. He likes hockey...he used to be a goalie even...his favourite NHL team is the Vancouver Canucks and he is not shy to call them 'bums' when they don't play well. 7. He likes dark chocolate best. 8. He has a heart for worship...he's learned a lot from guys like Paul Baloche, Robin Mark and Brian Doerksen...flow in worship is something he strives for. 9. He makes me laugh...he's got a great sense of humour...especially when he starts talking nonsense and coming up with schemes right before he goes to sleep! 10. He's a super father!! 11. The first thing he did on our first date was kiss me! (shocking?! ...I KNOW!:) 12. He works shiftwork in a care-home where he makes more of a difference than he will ever know (despite the frustrations of bureaucracy). 13. He adores me just the way I am (now THAT deserves a prize!) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) Chickadee, Denise, Stacie, Norma, Dawn, Nancy Daisy, Suzy, Killired, Virenda

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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My husband would like this post...

Pollyanna's Guitar Parts!

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!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

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.'!