nevermind raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

these are a few of my favorite things...

(inspired by a post I saw at Janelle's)

poop land gets a friend

Well he finally did it...

My toilet received it's first toy this morning.

Not quite sure what it was, as I only caught a glimpse of a small red plastic object, swirling down into poop land.

People told me that there was no way I could possibly prevent this day from coming, but I assured them I could, and I would.

However, here I am, minus one red plastic something, and a son who thinks it's funny.

Bits and Pieces of the real me

I read a post tonight from someone who was desperately crying out for people to be REAL.

And I agree,

so here's a very small piece of the real me....

What I REALLY find in coffee cups that have been left behind and forgotten

What I REALLY look like in the morning

The man I REALLY married

What my son REALLY thinks of my rules

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-I don't put away my clean laundry

I fold it and put it neatly in a basket, only to end up throwing clean and dirty laundry on top, only to find that I no longer know what's clean and what's dirty, only to wash it again, and start the whole cycle all over again

-I watch and am addicted to Degrassi TNG

-I've fallen asleep in church

-I still think about smoking from time to time

-I don't kiss my husband enough

-We don't recycle

My prayer today

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change

the courage to change the things I can

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Growing up in a family of addicts, myself included, I've heard, read, seen, recited, and shared this prayer more times that I could count. For whatever reason, God placed this prayer on my heart this morning, and asked me to really meditate on it.

Serenity:

A state of calm, stress-free peace.

Undisturbed, unclouded.

Courage:

Facing danger, difficulty and pain without fear.

Confidence, bravery.

Wisdom:

Knowledge of what is true or right, accompanied with just judgement, disernment, and action.

Understanding.

God, give me your peace which passes all understanding, to fully accept and embrace your plan, your ways, your direction.... By your Spirit, grace and power, give me all that I need to approach the throne of grace with confidence, believing that You who began a good work in my will carry it out to completion, that by your grace, I can walk in righteousness and truth.... God give me not a worldy wisdom, but a wisdom by your grace that comes with understanding and revelation, that I could grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

Amen.

The lazy picture post

The egg-hunt

The goods

The laugh-attack

The comb-over

The freak of the week

Sanka, ya dead man?

No mon, I'm not dead . But I have to finish the race.....

So we're at it again, conquering 40 flights of stairs, tomorrow morning, 11:30 am.

Sanka: Look, Star, let me tell you something about yourself. Whenever you need me for something, you don't have to hand me a bunch of lines. All you have to do is say, "Sanka, you are my best friend, we've been through a whole heap together, and I really, really need you."

Derice: Sanka, you're right. And you are my best friend. And we've been through a whole lot together.

Sanka: "Heap," mon, "heap."

Derice: Sorry, mon. A whole heap together.

Sanka: "And I really, really need you."

Derice: And I really, really need you.

Sanka: Forget about it.

Our stairway to heaven.....I mean boiler room.

Sunday afternoon....

huffing, puffing....

and

spontaneous combustion

My sis and I thought it would be an AWESOME idea to pick a building downtown, and conquer it by walking/jogging up all it's stairs. The building that kept sticking out to us was the Radisson. So we pulled up, parked, giggled all the way in, and walked into the bathroom. As we stretched, and giggled, and stretched, the butterflies in our stomachs grew with anticipation of what was to come. We were so pumped!

We found the stairwell, and off we went. We figured we'd walk the first few flights for a warm up, but wouldn't you know, we were huffing and puffing by the 5th floor! and there were 20 flights in total! We figured it wasn't going to get any easier, so we started our jog. Jogging one flight, walking one flight. We did this all the way to the top, when on the last flight, I felt like my legs had run right off my body, and my torso was floating in the air! What a rush!

We elevatored it back down, stretched and giggled some more, and off we went AGAIN, jogging one flight, walking one flight. At about the last 5 or 6 flights we were WIPED, and had to walk the rest of the way, until the very last flight where we gave it our all, and then I spontaneously combusted.

The drive home was fun, since my sis's leg was involuntarily tremoring. We thanked the Lord we didn't take the standard.

Us: 1

Radisson: 0

say cheeeeeese!!!!

So, I'm downstairs, on very limited time since I know little one must be wrecking something, throwing something, breaking something, messing something, hiding something, or eating something. A few minutes pass, and there's quiet........too much quiet. I peek my head around the corner, and there's my son, sitting at the top of the basement stairs, dangling his little feet, as he chomps on the big block of marble cheese. He smelled like cheese for the rest of the day.

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SAY CHEESE!

DO YOU SNORE? My husband says I do, but he's a LIAR
LOVER OR A FIGHTER? both, depends on the day, the mood, the weather, the happenings of the day and the monthly cycle
WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR? That something bad will happen to my husband
AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO BUILDER? Only at my cousins house, I had no lego
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "REALITY TV"? Is there anything better? I mean really?
DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS? Absolutely! And pencils and pens and nails and guitar picks and when I was younger, Barbie's feet
WERE YOU A CUTE BABY? YES.
HOW IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU? What single life?
WHAT COLOR IS YOUR KEYBOARD? black
DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? sometimes
HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED? not yet, I'm afraid I'll break my legs
ANY SECRET TALENTS? I don't share secrets
WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT? Anywhere that has a beach, room service, shopping and nice weather
HAVE YOU EATEN SUSHI? yes
HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE "DONNIE DARKO"? huh?
DO YOU GIVE A DARN ABOUT THE OZONE? yeah I give a darn
HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP? I'm too impatient to lick, I chew
CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS? Never tried, have you?
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON AN AIRPLANE? yes
ARE SPEEDO'S HOT? do a dog's lips move when he reads? Yeah then no.

WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING? for food and survival? cool. For fun? not cool
IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE? by future do you mean past? Then yes.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I have three different handwrittings, depends on the mood (and the weather, and the days happenings, and the monthly cycle)
WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO? Laundry
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, "I LOVE YOU"? earlier today
IS TUPAC STILL ALIVE? didn't care that he ever was
DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS? depends on the couple
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS? over easy
ARE BLONDES DUMB? not when I'm one....well yeah then too.....maybe it's just me
WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP? in between my dryer and my washing machine full of dust and dryer lint
WHAT TIME IS IT? 3:57 pm
DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME? yes
IS MCDONALD'S DISGUSTING? after watching "supersize me", yes. While eating it, no
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR? earlier today
DO YOU PREFER BATHS OR SHOWERS? both have their pros and cons
IS SANTA CLAUSE REAL? what the
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? used to be, BUT NOT NO MORE
WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO? coffee, blogging, and Friends, not my friends, the ones on the show, which I wish were my friends
CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER? creamy
HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE? no
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH TODAY? umm....... Dr. Holly are you reading this?
IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE? What does this question even mean? Like, dumb drugs? or normal drugs like tylenol and epidurals?
ARE YOU WEARING SOCKS? unfortunately... I hate socks, can't wait for summer and flip flops
HAVE YOU EVER HITCH HIKED? no way man, ever seen the movie Hitchhicker?
WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES? blue, green, I don't know
WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? yesterday
DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE? yes
WHOSE LIFE IS BETTER? what the
ARE YOU PSYCHIC? yes.... and you're thinking this is a dumb question too right?
HAVE YOU READ "CATCHER IN THE RYE"? yes, just now, and it says "CATCHER IN THE RYE"
DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS? guitar and keyboard
CAN YOU SKATEBOARD? no, but I used to wish I could

DO YOU LIKE CAMPING? no way
DO U SNORT WHEN U LAUGH? yes
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? I believe there are powers that come from both sides of the coin, but I wouldn't call it magic
IS A DOG A MAN'S BEST FRIEND? no
YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE? no
CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK? no
DOES YOUR MOM KNOW YOU HAVE A MYSPACE? no
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? lunch
DO YOU WEAR NAILPOLISH? yes
DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE RIGHT NOW? this is dumb
WHAT'S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL? why am I even doing this
DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE? did I mention this was dumb
FAVORITE BAND AT THE MOMENT? I should add "wasting time" to my list of addictions

So anyways, my hubby found this picture floating around in some old file.

My daughter must have been only 1'ish in this picture. I think it's such a neat display of the fingerprints of God all over our lives, to see him and her together even then, it's beautiful.

What a punk my hubby was though hey? Nice hair rockstar!

(Stolen from Janelle)

1. I've come to realize that my butt: is something my husband likes to check out, and I need to let him more often. Instead of running away or saying "Chriiiiiiiiiiis! Dooooonnnnnnnn't!"
2. I've come to realize that when I talk: it's hard for me to stop.
3. I've come to realize that I need: to stop drinking so much coffee and drink more water.
4. I've come to realize that I've lost: all creativity in regards to thinking of a good answer to this question.
5. I've come to realize that I hate it when: I hurt myself by doing something dumb like stubbing my toe (re: picture of purple toe a couple posts back) It's the only time a bad word slips through my lips, although I'm working on a new made-up 'swear language', just like a 'prayer language', only......not.
6. I've come to realize that I have a crush on: my husband, still. :)
7. I've come to realize that the last time I cried was: a few days ago, must be an off-week, I usually cry everyday.
8. I've come to realize that my cell phone is: not mine, and I need to stop draining my hubby's battery by texting people I could easily just call.
9. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning: I NEED coffee, or I'm in for a super rank headache. Although this is no new realization.
10. I've come to realize that before I go to sleep at night I: pick my nose. I hate the whistling sound my nostrils make when there's boogers in there.
11. I've come to realize that when I get on Facebook: facebook doesn't exist to me, please don't ask me evil questions.
12. I've come to realize that today I will: go to the Fun Factory, go shopping, take my girl to a birthday party, have a workout with my hubby, and be happy and nice.
13. I've come to realize that I really want to: be healthy.
14. I've come to realize love: does not make the world go 'round, it seems to spin either way.
15. I've come to realize my best guy friend: is the man I married.
16. I've come to realize my best girl friend: is down the street.

What have you realized lately?

My Valentine's Day gift

Ephesians 6:18

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert, and always keep on praying for all the saints."

God calls us to pray. He says pray on all occasions with all kinds of requests. He also says to be alert, so that when His Spirit prompts us to intercede for another saint, we are ready and willing.

I was deeply encouraged on Valentine's Day. Not because it was Valentine's Day, (this was actually the first year my husband and I celebrated it) but because I received a special phone call.

My son has not been sleeping through the night. Without going into all the detail of the obvious annoyance this has been, it's been a battle we've been fruitlessly fighting for a while now. I was sharing this with Heather on msn, and as those of you who keep up with her blog know, she was able to sympathize greatly. She asked if she could call me that morning.

Here I thought she might have some great ideas for me to try, or maybe she would just listen to me vent my frustration on never getting an uninterupted nights sleep, but she did something that shouldn't have surprised me, but did.

She prayed. She prayed for my son. She prayed for me. She prayed for my husband and my daughter. She went on to pray for our Valentine's supper we had planned, and the spiritual atmosphere of my home. She prayed, and then she said good-bye.

I walked away from that phone call feeling so completely blessed. Blessed that I have found such an amazing friend. Blessed that God spoke directly to my heart on a morning where I needed to be reminded that He loves me. Blessed that a sister stepped out in boldness and confidence to obey her calling in the Lord, and convict me by her walk to do the same.

God asks us to pray, on all occasions. Sometimes, He specifically asks us to pray for a specific person at a specific time in a specific way. When we step out in faith, He blesses us, and those we pray for.

My son has NOT woken up ONCE since Valentine's Day.

Thank-you Lord, and thank-you Heather.

You are loved.

lazy picture post

been a while, but got nothin to say (hold the phone! Nin has nothing to say?), so here's some pics because I'm too lazy to say something interesting.....ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!

The side-part

Whattchu talkin' about Willis?

'Grade A' table manners in practice

My toe...

Please disregard the lack of toenail, and focus more on the pretty colors

High on life, and chocolate

More amazing table manners that would make any parent proud

Do I have something in my teeth?

procrastinator, not a team player

sssshhhh!

I'm supposed to be working, but I'm taking a break, because I'm a HORRIBLE worker. My hubby left me on my own to get a job done, and I told him not to leave me. I told him I needed direction and someone looking over my shoulder to make sure I'm getting it done. I told him that I might get distracted, and that I might end up on the computer.....did he listen? no.

So here I am, feeling like I DO NOT want to finish the ENORMOUS job we have started. I'll tell you all about it later, when it's done and there's hope and joy in me again.

Until then.... shhhh! I wasn't here....

look what I did mommy!

This is how I found my son and his little people when I came upstairs. Does it get any better than this?

Was just sifting through some older pictures, feeling sentimental. They grow so fast.

As Is...

"It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice..."

It's learning lessons like this, over, and over, and over, and over, that make me realize more and more that my perception of God is warped. I think all of us struggle with seeing God as He really is, a God of ultimate love, and ultimate authority. Some of us find ourselves thinking this love is a "get out of His authority free" card, while others might concentrate on the authority so much, that they miss the unconditional love He has for us.

I view myself as a student, and since I was never a good student, and often disspointed my teachers, I often wonder if I dissapoint God when what He's trying to teach me something that is not clicking in my head. I took a chemistry class in grade 10. Once we hit the periodic table unit, I was lost, and no where to be found. All the information was going completely over my head, and I was not retaining any of it. Now I never took school seriously, I was a class cutter, a talker, a note-passer, and a sleeper. Maybe all these facts combined were what compelled my chem teacher to approach me with the recommendation that I drop his class. He notified me that there was no hope of me passing, and that even if I aced my exams, which he had little faith that I would, I still would not squeak by with a 50%. In my immaturity, and excitement for a spare, I dropped the class.

I will never forget that. Instead of tutoring me, or helping me, he gave up on me. Now I'm not saying that this teacher has forever wounded me and has alone caused me this warped view of the God I serve. But it did leave a mark on my life, like many other experiences that told me I'm not good enough for approval and acceptance 'as is'. Like the defect clothes you find on sale racks, some are salvageable, some are not.

So if God was the type to give up on me, I knew He must've already. Some of the things on my list of wrongs were repulsive, and unforgivable. I made the same mistakes over and over, suffered the same conquences over and over, manipulated people into thinking I was a victim of such tragedy, when in reality, I had caused the mess, and perfected the blame game.

When I became a christian, I was amazed beyond what words could explain how much love I felt from my heavenly Father. He forgave me, no questions asked, and transformed me into this woman I had no idea existed beneath all the fear and self doubt. I was enough.

Years go by, life carries on, sin continues and faith grows cold. Where did I lose the love that was so real to me? Why do I think I need to do or be or think or say or act or find something new? Why am I no longer enough 'as is'.

1 Corinthians 15:10 says: "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace."

So many times I think I'm not doing it right, I'm not reading the Word enough, I'm not worshiping and praying enough, I'm not fasting enough, and don't even get me started on my character flaws that somedays seem like there's been no improvement since the day I got saved. Why am I not getting it?

So here's the kicker, and tell me if it blows your mind as much as it's still blowing mine,

I DO NOT NEED TO GET IT.

God, am I hearing you right? This can't be right, this can't be biblical. All throughout the new testament, it's full of all these things that are expected of me, how could it be possible that I don't need to get it.

Here's the key word: I.

I don't need to get it, I don't need to get it. There is nothing I could do that would help me get this! Here I am, in chemistry, not getting it, wondering what the heck is going on, and there's nothing I can do, because I just don't understand. I need, NEED the help of my teacher if there is any hope of grasping chemistry! Doing extra assignments, staying late after class, what would that even do if I'm not understanding the assignments, if I'm just sitting in my desk wasting time all by myself, what a pointless thing to do!

The concept of God never leaving or forsaking me is one that is hard for me to grasp, even after seeing all that I have been saved from. Somewhere hiden, there is a lie that tells me that God will one day tell me to drop His class. A lie that says if I do extra work, I might be able to get that 50%. What if there was a way to get 100%? What if there was a way to get 100% without extra work? Now wouldn't that be sweet.

1 Corinthians 15:10 says: "But whatever I am now "AS IS", it is all because God poured out His special favor on me "AS IS"- and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me "AS IS" by His grace."

"It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice..."

I think I could get this.

It's official

My eyelids are brown. Yes, they're brown, even the rim on the bottom of my eye is brown. Thanks to the native blood in my mom, I was cursed, oops, I mean blessed with this indescribable joy. Some ignorant people might say, well that's neat, you never have to put on eyeshadow! Well, ignorant people, so not the case. I need to wear concealer and foundation on my eyelids, just to get them the same color as the rest of my face. If I don't, people approach me and ask one of the following questions:

"Are you tired?"

"Were you beaten up?"

So, as much fun as it is to walk around like I just received a nice beating, I would much rather use the concealer. However, I've been told that regular rubbing of the eyes with your fingers can cause premature wrinkles, and I assume that a couple of times everyday fits under "regular".

So, I'm going to have premature wrinkles, no big deal, I've already prepared my hubby for it. Maybe my premature wrinkles will fit nicely with his receding hairline, we'll look "grown-up" together.

Well to add to the awesomeness of this aging process at 24 years old, I'm going grey too. I noticed my first strip of grey a few years ago. I dye my hair so often that I wasn't able to notice any of it's friends until a couple of days ago, and yes, it has brought it's friends.

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I thought my hubby married a girl,

he likes to think he married a woman,

turns out he married an old lady.

no title, no point

So Christmas is finally over.....

"Are you sure?

Are you really sure?

Remember you were sure before...."

"Nancy, I'm not a doctor, but it's got no pulse, it's not breathing and it's cold as a popsicle. Believe me, honey, whatever he is, he's definitely dead!"

-Harry and the Hendersons-

Phew.

Here was my Christmas in an undetailed nutshell.

21st: daughters birthday party

22nd: xmas at mother in laws

23rd: daughter leaves for her dads

24th: evening with my parents

25th: stopped by sis's, parents, then xmas at father in laws

26th: daughter came home, then xmas at my aunts

27th: family xmas with me hubby and kids

28th: boxing week shopping

29th: boxing week shopping

30th: xmas with my sis and parents

31st: new years at Waskesui with father and law and all the same inlaws I'd seen previously on the 22nd and the 25th. I love them, but.....

1st: officially burnt out, familied out, inlawed out, xmased out, better watch out or I'll act out!

The week that followed was spent getting our messy, disorganized and chaotic home back in order, with a severe migraine thrown in there somewhere, and some failed attempts to get back on track with eating and excersize. All in all, I was so ready to send my daughter off to school, and my hubby off to work on Monday. I love having them around, but I've realized more than ever that I need order structure and routine to survive, let alone thrive.

Through all the distraction, I'm now left pondering what God wanted to show and teach me in the whole thing, because even though I may not have been listening, God was still speaking.

We have our life group tonight, and I am so encourged and excited to see what God wants to do and say. As my hubby and I have been seeking the Lord this week, we feel He's answered our prayer, and has given us the refocus, refilling and faith boost we needed after a crazy busy couple of weeks.

Last night my hubby and I sat at the coffee table playing classic Concentration

made for MS DOS, which I forgot there was such a thing.

del c:\stupid dos\why won't you work.tmp

It was super fun. I kicked butt. Then we played Wheel of Fortune, and the stupid computer named Louise was totally cheating. Stealing money, secretly getting all the answers from Pat....typical computer.

For those of you that made this far, in this dumb post, you win a prize!

One full year of:

My Friendship

(subject to change, some conditions may apply, may be cancelled without notice)

No, I'm not bored. I'm just, productively-challenged.

photo shoot

To Caleb,

My thoughts go to you often lately. I miss you. How are you up there? What's it like? I wonder what your new body is like, and what it would be like to see you run and play.....what does your voice sound like when you're talking to Jesus.....
Christmas came and went and I've thought of you lots. Daniel got a new toy school bus and there's a little man that sits in a wheelchair at the back of the bus. I know it's really you sneaking in to play with your cousin. You would love him and think he's really funny, I bet he would give you good pats on the chest. I'll be sure to tell him all about you as he grows. He got to wear your Winnie the Pooh tie on Christmas day, it was very special, thank you for sharing it with us.
I love you lots and lots, and am happy to know that you are having lots of fun where you are. Please say hi to your other cousin and to great grandpa for me. Is Jacob and silly Jericho up there with you too? If so, give Jericho a dirty look from me.
Merry Christmas Caleb,
Love Auntie Tinette