A small fortune later, my little one is happy after her evening at the fair. It was pouring rain on our way there, so we thought we were going to have to do it another day. Little one was quite dissapointed, but handled it well. We headed in to Walmart since we were there anyway. We said a little prayer to God to ask if He could stop the rain for us, but if not, we knew someone must need the rain more than we needed to go to the fair. When we were done in Walmart, the clouds had broken and the rain had ceased. It was so nice for my hubby and I to share that moment with our little girl. We thanked God together.

Our last couple days, pre-rain

Weeee......... me and Faithfulness on the train at Kinsmen (la la la la)

Three of a kind........Full house

Carebear and I on the Ferris Wheel, ready to be sick

Digging for fossils at the Children's Festival....

Plate spinning......

And tight rope walking.....

Picture perfect

This little piggy's comin home with me

ramblings.....

What makes someone want to be all alone on an island? Sounds like fun, sign me up.....
I'm still trying to get used to this whole concept, it doesn't make sense to me. Being secretive, fake, surfaced, why?? I'm not used to not knowing what's going on in the lives of my loved ones. I'm not used to having to dig for information, usually it's given to me freely, no questions asked. My sister and I were laughing today about how our family is the farthest thing from an island. In fact, we all share the same island, pushing eachother in the water and throwing coconuts at eachother, when we're not swinging from the trees of course. My hubby was trying to encourage me today, reminding me that God has placed everyone in my life for a very specific reason, and I need to keep my eyes focused on that reason, and not my own frustrations. I guess I just don't know how a life that's lived in secret, is worth living at all. Isn't the joy of this life to share it with others? Why do we need to guard everything so closely, and have such suspicions when it comes to sharing our hearts, or heaven forbid, our struggles? What is there to be afraid of?

But aside from all that....
My hubby and I are coming up on our 2nd year anniversary on the 19th! Praise God for His faithfulness, don't know where we would be without His endless mercy and grace in our relationship. I've been amazed lately at how God has redeemed so much in us, and how He continues to be glorified in things that we thought were too muddy to even show His face. My hubby and I both have pasts that lack purity. When we got engaged, we decided that we would walk in righteouness, and save it for our marriage. I can remember thinking when the rubber met the road, that it was easier said than done. One time I ran into a room and closed the door. I was crying to God, saying there's no way I can do this! It's too hard! It was amazing to hear His gentle response. "I've been waiting for you to say that......." From that moment on, I gave God the reigns, and He carried us through, right till the very end, and redeemed all that we had walked through. What a blessing that was, a blessing I never thought I would ever be able to have, from the bad choices I had made. Isn't that God's mercy? Not giving us what we DO deserve, and giving us all that we DON'T deserve. When my hubby and I were first married, we found it very hard to adjust. We can laugh about it all now, and we sure do, but at the time, I wondered why on earth God had ever brought us together. I still stand by my theory that opposites attract because God has a sense of humour. I'm sure I couldn't count how many good laugh attacks we gave Him in those first few months. God continues to walk us through many things, from the choices we've made in our past, and we continue to walk them out together hand in hand. Somehow it doesn't hurt so bad when you know you've got someone right beside you who will love you no matter what. I'm glad that God is walking us through these things, because I know glory is on the other side, and by the word of our testimony many people will come to know His love and forgiveness. I love my husband more than ever, my heart continues to grow and grow for him. I love watching him grow into an amazing man of God. I too easily forget how awesome he is. I know that I am where I am because of how my husband has led me. Of course many times I don't listen, but even then, he's so merciful. I can't wait to see where God will take us in the next year. A new baby....a new home perhaps.... to many new beginnings I'm sure.

May the God who loves and forgives, be glorified in your life today. I taught Sunday school the other week, and we made posters on how we could never ever gain our salvation. We tried to think of analogies, and I loved what the girls came up with....
Like eating your own head,
Like fishing on the moon,
Like camping on the sun,
Like seeing a leprechaun,
Like walking on a rainbow,
It's impossible, to gain what we have already been freely given.
Wow. Amen girls!

My cousin in the back and my niece at her taekwondo competition. Doesn't my cousin look like Jeannine Garofalo?

No but seriously!...........WHO would put that there? Any questions, ask Carebear.

My hubby being a boy with his toys.

A sisterhood made in heaven........where thunder rolls and lightning crashes. lol :)

A present from my little one. Awwww........

I tell ya....... if his mother saw his manners when she's not around......

Weeeee!!!! Go dad!

My lizard has been really sick for the last few weeks. We not exactly up for forking out hundreds of dollars for a vet visit, so we've been trying our best to nurse him back to health. Jericho has not been my favorite household member since day one. The first time I ever held him he pooped on me, and so you know, his poop is never solid. "That stupid lizard" has come out of my mouth at least a million times in the last two years. But in the last few weeks, I've actually developed a heart for the little guy. Seeing him sick and having a hard time has brought something out in me that makes me want to care for him. So, today, I was giving him a dose of calcium, and he pooped all over the clean fresh pants that I had just put on 5 minutes before. Not only that, but when I held him away from me and called for my hubby, he decided he wasn't done, and went all over the floor. Very frustrated, I'm asking myself why I even started caring about THAT STUPID LIAZARD. I knew I wasn't an animal lover, what made me think I could change.

Another little one update

My uterus now comes about 1 1/2 inches above my belly button, and is about the size of a basketball. My baby is over a foot long and weighs close to 2 pounds. Very active, my baby is even more coordinated in it's movements, peddling his or her feet, and has developed a strong grip which baby may use to grasp on to the umbilical cord. Baby's eyes can open and close and react to light. Vocal cords are functioning although baby won't make a peep until that first birth cry. My baby could survive with intensive care if born now.

Have been feeling a little overwhelmed of what the very near future holds. Even though I have a 5 year old little girl, I'm feeling like a first-timer. I didn't really take the reigns of raising my little one until she was one. I figure if I pop out a one year old, I've got it cased no problem. But I'm thinking it'll be a little baby, and I'm feeling very unprepared. As I seek God and His abounding peace, rest and reassurance, I'm reminded that He will be the one walking me through this step by step. I'm reminded that my husband is a first-timer as well, and what a blessing it is to experience this new thing together. I'm reminded that my God has plans for me and my family that are much bigger than mine, that His purpose for me is to walk in faith, trust and complete dependance on Him. Everyday I need to surrender this to Him, and remember that He will give me what I need, when I need it. So blessed that I have so many to encourage me and walk this with me. Thank you, may God bless you today.

6 random facts

1. I like thunder storms.....
one time my hubby and I sat on his mom's roof huddled underneath a blanket, nearly getting hail in our eyeballs, until the winds got so strong that we thought we were going to get blown right off.

2. I am prone to pick at random things on my body.....
My pinky toenail will not grow back from all the times I've ripped it out. If I have an itch, I will scratch until I've broken through the first layer of skin. Cold sores, hang nails, scabs and various other things, get picked off as soon as they come into my sight. Oddly enough I'm not covered in scars.

3. I quit smoking on February 1st 2004.....
My hubby said that he wouldn't marry me unless I quit. I'm pretty sure he was bluffing, but didn't really want to find out for sure.

4. I used to think that the crust of the bread was better for you than the rest of the bread.....
I was always taught that the crust was where the nutrients were, must've been my mom's way of getting me to eat it. Just a few months ago I gave this same line to my daughter, and it took my hubby 20 minutes to convince me that it was not true.

5. I come from a family who knows how important it is to laugh.....
one time my mom got arrested for unpaid parking tickets. The only reason they found her in the first place was because she ran a red light and got hit, right infront of a cop. It didn't take us long to get thrown into a full blown laugh attack over the craziness of the situation. He escorted my mom and I to the cop shop so my mom could pay her debt, and when we got there, my mom was so flustered that she couldn't parallel park. She kept driving up onto the sidewalk, and down again, up on the sidewalk and down again. All this in front of the cop who was waiting outside for my mom, which made us laugh even harder. All laughs were put on hold of course, once my dad heard the news.

6. I think that those cold rolls wrapped in rice paper found in Asian restaurants resemble a male reproductive organ......
I don't eat them, 'nuff said.

I AM: a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a niece, an auntie and a friend.
I WANT: a house and a happy heart.
I WISH: I could be satisfied with all the blessings God has given me.
I HATE: horror movies, nightmares and fear.
I MISS: being able to physically move around as freely as I could.
I FEAR: that my fears might make me miss out on God doing something awesome.
I WONDER: what God is going to show me today.
I REGRET: not being around when my daughter was little. (so I'm glad she's still little)
I AM NOT: as organized as I'd like to be.
I DANCE: when I'm rejoicing and when I'm cleaning. (no there's no connection between the two)
I SING: all the time!
I CRY: these days? over spilled milk.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: known for saying the most intelligent things.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: peace signs, 'I love you' in sign language, music, meals, kick-butt sidewalk chalk art and puppy shadows on the wall.
I WRITE: music, emails and blog posts.
I CONFUSE: people's names if their last name can also be used as a first name.
I NEED: forgiveness and mercy everyday, the body of Christ, my husband's hugs, and my daughter's silliness.
I SHOULD: probably get off my butt and go shower.
I START: saying things that I know I'll regret, but am able to hold my tongue more and more as God continues to chip away at my anger.
I FINISH: saying them when I choose not to listen.
I TAG: whoever wants this, I swiped it and so can you!

My tummy @ 5 months

I'm sporting my first sun burn of the season, it looks like summer!

I'm scratching away at my first mosquitto bites of the season, it looks like summer!

I'm kicking off my blankets in the night, and sweating up a storm, it looks like summer!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!

My little Tebeebeeness is off to the lake with her dad for the long weekend. My hubby just won a gift certificate for Grainfields from the radio station today. I finally found an awesome pair of maternity pants last night at Value Village for ten bucks. I cross over into my sixth month of pregnancy next week. My hubby thinks my pregnant belly looks hot. :)

God is good all the time. He's been showing His greatness in ways I never expected. I'm so glad He keeps me on my toes, and reminds me just when I need to be, that He is God, and I am not! My faith has been encouraged so much in these last weeks.

Well that's it, I'm off to enjoy my beautiful weekend, many blessings on yours!

My super photogenic family...

(*Please note that ~Nin~ accepts no responsibility for any legal action taken by it's readers concerning their image on this site. As bearing the ownership of copyright, ~Nin~ has exclusive rights to make copies, create derivative works, distribute, display and perform works publicly. Thank-you for your cooperation.*)

*all rights reserved*

My God takes care of me!

My God takes care of me...

This I know, because everytime I think we're struggling financially, God reminds me that He's taking care of it, and He always provides with everything that we need, and then some. I do not want to take for granted that we live so much more comfortably than I ever did growing up. We always have food on the table, and a roof over our heads. Our cupboards are not full of only bright yellow no-name boxes, and we've never had to make a trip to any food bank. We're able to provide my daughter with things I never had, and her and I are able to experience things I never thought I would.

My God takes care of me...

This I know, because everytime my back is killing me, God revitalizes me with faith, in remembering that He blesses this pregnancy, and that He is bigger than any physical problem. I do not want to take for granted that besides my hip problem, I am feeling great. I have been blessed to have a wonderful pregnancy, with a supporting husband that loves me. He's given me the ability to carry life, so I know He must be taking care of my back.

My God takes care of me...

This I know, because for the longest time I thought that my relationship with my daugher's birth father was beyond repair, and I was destined to walk a road of suffering for my sin. I now look at all God has done and stand amazed. I never want to take for granted all that is now possible in our relationship, the freedom, kindness and mercy.

I never thought there would come a day where I would pray for him, and anticipate God's move in his life. I know that God was taking care of me even then, because I see His fingerprints through it all.

My God takes of me...

This I know, because He has blessed me with a wonderful blood family that serve Him, and that are always open and willing to serve eachother. I do not want to take for granted that I can call of them at anytime, because I know there are many out there who are alone, without a caring and loving family to remind them that they are unconditionally loved and accepted. My family helps me out with everything imaginable, if I needed the shirt off their back they'd give it to me. How amazing is that?

My God takes care of me...

This I know, because everytime I stray from His path, He gently nudges me in the right direction, never holding my sin against me. Even when I've left for a long while, He always welcomes me back with open arms, ready to start right where we left off. I do not want to take for granted the salvation I've found in Him. He did not have to come and rescue me that night, He did not have to open my eyes to His truth, He did not have to die for me, but He did. Many times I forget that the road is very straight and very narrow, and not many find it.

More times than I'd like, I do take these things for granted and overlook my many blessings. But I'm so glad that God took care of me when He sent His Son to die on the cross, so that my doubt can be forgiven, and replaced with a grace to move forward in His calling for my life. I'm so glad that God does not count my doubts against me, and that He still moves in me, even when my attitude does not deserve it.

May you be reminded of your blessings today, and count them with joy.

A death in the kitchen...

My cheap, ten dollar toaster bit the dust last night.

May he rest in the peace of knowing, that we will buy a much better toaster this time around.

10 simple pleasures...

I've been tagged by Crystal :)

1. Knowing and walking in my identity in Christ, taking hold of my God given authority and watching my faith move mountains

2. Watching my husband grow and mature in the Lord, in who he is as a man of God, as a husband and a father

3. Watching my little girl grow up, serve others, learn about who Jesus is and who she is as a little daughter of the king who has the heart of a lion, seeing her overcome fear

4. Having the gift to hear a song flow out of my mouth and hands that could only come from the power of the Holy Spirit, playing it for others and being able to watch God move in their hearts and lives

5. Having the ability to carry a life inside me, watching my tummy grow, watching everyone around me be so happy and supportive

6. Watching my parents grow in wisdom and love, watching them become more and more in love with eachother, and growing in who God created them to be

7. Knowing in the back of my mind that God is able to take care of us in all things, if I let Him

8. Listening to my husband sing (he's tone deaf, and I love him for it)

9. Having a laugh attack with my sister

10. Watching my littlest neice learn all about the world around her, seeing in her eyes that she understands what I'm saying, finding joy in seeing her heart being trained to walk in obedience

Just can't stop there!

11. Saskatoon Asian vietemese rolls
12. Watching a movie until my hubby comes home at night
13. Milk, Milk, Milk
14. Suntanning
15. Coffee and Iced Cappuccino 's from Tim's
16. Toe rings, flip flops and tank tops
17. The notes my hubby leaves me every morning
18. Long shirts
19. Getting the white diamond on a level of Crash Bandicoot for Playstation
20. Bright colored band-aids

Sorry, I cheated, but I'm way too long winded for just ten! :)

Pics to enjoy...

Me impatiently awaiting my ultrasound...

One of our many swim days at Lakewood...

My two roomies being video game retards...

One thumb one thumb druming on a drum, dum dee dee dum dee dee dum dum dum...

Mini-me using her face as a sticker book...

My daughter did a face plant in the cement the day before my sister-in-laws wedding....

she was the flower girl...

Me and my Faithfulness... La la la la...

My two brother-in-laws...

My sister-in-law...

My little Granny with the cracks...

and last and definately least...

My stupid lizard...

My Little One...

My baby's house is now about the size of a small melon. My hubby and I especially love to feel it in the morning, when it's pushed up by my full bladder. Of course I can only handle so many pokes and prods before I need to run to the bathroom. Baby is about 5 inches and 5 ounces. Baby's body is now growing faster than the head. Baby has finger prints and toe prints, and temporary hair. Baby can suck his or her thumb, swallow amniotic fluid and pass it as urine (so neat, but a little weird that there's a little one making pee inside me), and make practice breathing movements. Baby's bones are getting harder and stronger. So excited, to be a new mom, to give birth to my husbands first child, and to give my daughter the greatest gift ever.

Still here.......
It's funny how I love reading all of your fresh posts, but post nothing fresh of my own. :)
Am still growing in all the joys of pregnancy. I've officially grown out of all of my pants. It's silly how over and over I would try them on thinking, maybe today they'll fit. Talk about a recipe for frustration. So they're outta here. I'm enjoying the wonderful weather outside, because I've been able to bring out the wrap around skirts. So comfy. My clothes situation has been cause for a lot of frustration. There's no worse feeling for me than waking up every single morning, walking over to your closet and having nothing to wear, because nothing fits. Over and over I've had to take this to God, and be reminded that I am truly blessed with all that I have. He has porvided me with all that I have needed, I love that He cares about all those little things, if I just ask Him. I still can't get enough milk. Didn't know milk was this darn good! Am also craving fruit, and what a great thing to crave, in more ways than one if you know what I mean. I can remember times being in the bathroom and calling my hubby, whinning that I was going to die in there. Glad those days are over. Is amazing how everyone turns expert overnight when it comes to pregnancy. It's so fun to grow my patience while listening to someone who has no kids tell me everything I need to know and then some.
Family life is great these days. My hubby and I have been spending a lot of time together, and it's been really fun. We've decided to not allow anything else on our plates for a while, it seems we've not let anything pass us that we've not said no to in a long time. My daughter and I are thouroughly enjoying the weather, and have been spending a lot of time outside. She made a new friend from upstairs, praise God. They get along so well and it's amazing to watch her grow in serving.
God continues to grow my heart for Him. He's been closing doors and opening new ones. He's been growing relationships and building trust. I love that I serve a risen Lord, who loves me, who talks to me, who listens to me, and who cares about each and every little thing that matters to me. This weekend has been a real good reminder of all those things.
I hope and pray that all is well with all of you. Have a great day :)

What God is teaching me today...

"The best things is life are free,

but you can give them to the birds and bees,

Now gimme money! That's what I want!"

~The Beatles~

The more God is teaching us about finances, the more I realize how little I know. Money is such a god in our society, a god that I serve more often than I'd like to admit. I've developed the attitude that I'm an owner of what God has entrusted to me, instead of His manager.

"Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall.

The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity"

~Oswald Chambers~

sleeping in a whole new world....

I'm now pregnant enough to be getting up at 3 am for a middle of the night milk craving and a quick pee. My hubby and I decided that once I started getting up regularly that we would switch sleeping sides on our bed, as he's closer to the door. So last night was our first trial run, and neither of us got any sleep. I must have knocked the night stand 3 or 4 times with my hand, and he kept rolling waaaaaay over to what was clearly "my space". At one point he wrapped his big long leg around me like I was his body pillow. I quickly shoved him off and replied with a very non-cuddly HEY!!! He takes his leg off and says, well sweetie, can you move over please? I look over my side, and I'm on the seam of the mattress. Move over where? Yeesh....
However, how nice is it to have a hubby who still uses his best manners at 3 am.