Stuff I See Things I Learn

EFFORT

2011-02-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

I tried to make some really neat little mini-cheesecakes for my valentine yesterday. They didn’t look like the picture on the recipe. They sunk a tad in the middle.

What I love about my valentine is that he said “Babe, these are awesome!” They didn’t look pretty but they still tasted pretty darn good. How can you go wrong with cheesecake and chocolate drizzle?

I guess one of the things I love about love is that love, loves the effort.

Happy Valentines Day Babe!

LIVING STRONG

2010-04-30T08:28:00.004-04:00

I'm tossing this out there because the more people that know the less likely I am to go back on what I want to accomplish ... or at least that's my hope.

NO ... I do not want to begin training for the Tour de France. Although I wouldn't mind seeing it live. That would actually be really cool. As long as I could sit on the side of a French country road and eat a baguette with a hunk of lovely cheese whilst sipping a cafe au lait.

I DO ... want to get out on the bike more this season. That starts with the bikes needing to be tuned up next week. Last year was a total loss (and my waist line is proof) ... what with the wedding ... the renovating and the back problem that lingered through most of the summer.

I AM ... starting Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG DARE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I get to track what I'm eating and it's easy. I just had a Yoplait Vanilla Tango Yogurt. Plug it in and it tells me the cals, the fat, the carbs etc. I set up my goal. It starts me out with the specified CALS for the day and subtracts from there. It also logs Calories burned too. Did you know that 15 minutes of Wii Boxing burns 110 calories? ;)

So there you go. Laying it out there. Onward and upward. Wagons Ho! Here we go.

HELLO? IS THIS THING ON?

2010-04-15T19:10:00.006-04:00

I know ... I know ... it's been a while. And this post in no way is a declaration that I'll be back to regular posts. It might happen that way, but I'm not going to make that commitment. ;)

I was digging in my garden after work today. This is the first Spring that we've been in the house and actually had the time and focus to work on the garden. Spring 2009 was consumed with wedding plans and then honeymoons and then renovating the basement in-law suite for mom's arrival the end of August. The garden became an overgrown mess.

Now I'm able to take care of things in manageable chunks. And my downstairs gardener does her bit too. Although we have determined that diminishing vision and electrical cords and my mother are not in sync with one another. So lawn cutting will be me or the husband (I'm leaning towards the husband).

So in the digging I found this dead ol' thing that, from my estimation, hadn't seen life in a couple of springs. So I determined to get rid of it. I had one of those ah-ha moments in the midst of that.

DEAD THINGS DON'T ALWAYS GIVE UP THEIR GRIP EASILY

There are some things I'm praying about ... waiting for them to see the blossom of spring.

TURN UP THE VOLUME ... all the way!

2009-07-21T21:14:00.004-04:00

You must listen to this ...

It's phenomenal ...

CLICK HERE

good luck getting the tune

out of your head.

I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOUTUBE!

2009-04-16T11:39:00.005-04:00

But these ARE NOT wasted minutes ...

This will make you smile ...

And everyone needs to smile ...

And it's a whole new twist on a song

from my all time favourite movie ...

ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k&a%20mp;annotation_id=annotation_72265&feature=iv

100 DAYS

2009-02-20T08:16:00.003-05:00

I find it hard to fathom ...

and can hardly wait at the same time.

I'm getting married in 100 days.

There is too much still to do ...

House to buy ... dinner menu to plan ...

My Maid still needs a dress ...

I've got the dress.

Glyn got his suit this week.

We both needs shoes.

Need to get the kids their wedding outfits.

The honeymoon will be somewhere warm
that's really all we know.
We're doing a last minute deal.

I'll create my very own heart in sand pic
maybe find a couple of shells to toss in the photo too.

what am I doing blogging ...
I have lists that need stuff checked off.

Wiarton Willie Who????

2009-02-09T10:15:00.002-05:00

I don't care what Wiarton Willie or Punxsutawney Phil have to say.

I saw a Robin yesterday.

I will trust in their arrival as the sign of spring being 'round the corner.

This is not my picture of the Robin I saw coming up the Kenilworth.

I try not to drive and take pictures at the same time.

SPRING is just around the corner!

DECEMBER 24

2008-12-24T15:20:00.003-05:00

Coulda Sworn This Meant Something ...

2008-12-02T12:11:00.003-05:00

REMEMBERING | courage

2008-11-11T08:49:00.002-05:00

Syberen & Hendrina Potma

My grandparents were remarkable people. I admire their conviction of faith and the courage it took to live it out in dangerous times.

Following is a story from that time.

Food ration coupons, issued by the Nazi occupational forces, were often the only way for Dutch people to get enough to eat during the war years. Jews were excluded from the food ration distribution, and many Jews were starving or hiding in safe houses. The Dutch underground, of which Opa Potma was a part, set out to forge food ration coupons and distribute them to Jewish families in hiding and to the Dutch families who took them in. Those who were caught assisting Jews were sent to the concentration camps or executed.

The coupons were first printed at secret underground presses, and then stamped with a forged Nazi ink stamp. There was one final step to make the forgeries complete: a signature of the Nazi district officer. There were only a few people capable of taking on this job, and one of those few was Syberen Dirk Potma. As an artist and calligrapher, Opa was able to use his gifts to assist the underground movement and save many Jews in the process. Secretly and methodically, Opa signed the forged food coupons and bundled them, ready for delivery. (some of the older children may recall seeing stashes of printed material hidden around the Potma home in Heerenveen, with never a word about their purpose)

Opa was also part of the coupon distribution system, and one day he loaded up his bag with bundles of forged coupons and set off on his bike to distribute them throughout the underground network. Suddenly as he rounded a corner, he was stopped by a Nazi checkpoint. The first Nazi soldier ordered him to get off his bike and to open his bag. Opa knew that if they discovered his cargo, he would certainly be killed or sent to the concentration camp. But just as he was slowly dismounting, a second Nazi soldier said, “No, that’s Mr. Potma – let him through.”
Opa could hardly believe what he had just heard – he didn’t know a single German soldier, and none of them knew him by name! Later as he reflected on this experience, the only conclusion that he could come to was that it was not a Nazi soldier at all, but an angel in disguise, sent by God to save his life and the lives of many more through him

THANKSGIVING

2008-10-11T07:24:00.004-04:00

we've all got something to be thankful about.

i'm thinking these guys were happy they were being shot

by a Nikon D40

somewhere along a back country road

between stoney creek & stratford

wednesday, october 8th

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!

Rev. George Tunks

2008-09-22T12:00:00.005-04:00

"I woke up happy

and I'm happy I woke up"

A favourite quote from one of my favourite people.

He was in church yesterday.

He'd spent a few weeks in hospital.

Was feeling well enough to go home and to join us for worship.

He passed away yesterday afternoon.

I'm going to miss him.

You can read about him HERE

VACATIONS CONTINUED

2008-07-12T08:49:00.004-04:00

we've done a few day trippy things ...

Niagara Falls was just yesterday.

we love the falls.

i love the colours ...

i love the sound of the roaring water

we ran to Lake Erie for a day ...

Glyn's mom has a trailer out near Knight's Beach ...

the back country roads have a lot to offer ...

one of my favourite parts of July is the Tiger Lilies along the roads.

on the way home we spotted this mamma & baby

On Thursday I bought a wedding dress ...
It looks NOTHING like this one ...

VACATIONS!

2008-07-08T12:21:00.004-04:00

no spectacular plans for the week ...

some running around ...

some day trips will occur ...

we're being more diligent with the bike riding ...

The Dundas Rail Trail is a great bike ride ...

and you get to see old Canadian Pacific trains ...

and it was even in Sepia tones ...

or maybe that's the wonder of digital camera technology ...

some pretty things at the top of the rail trail ...

sometimes you need to just lay your head down on the deck and relax ...
Calvin's pretty content to have me home for the week ...

more photo's will follow ... i'm sure

SIX RANDOM THINGS ...

2008-06-09T11:51:00.002-04:00

I had been given permission to ignore ... but what the heck ... here ya go ...

Numero Uno … When I was 9 years old (I think 9 … if not exactly 9 then some where around there … give or take a year) I hid a terrible secret from my parents. I was found out … eventually … as kids who keep secrets from their parents usually are. I was ratted out by a “PAST DUE” notice mailed to the house. Yep, the secret was out … I’d snuck out and got myself a library card from the Public Library that used to exist at Eastgate Square … up on the second floor … overlooking the food court. Apparently I’d failed to return my Little House on the Prairie book on time …

Dos … I originally went to school to become a History teacher. Did my four year degree at McMaster … decided somewhere around 2.75 years into the program I didn’t so much want to teach, but wanted to finish out the degree … perhaps I could translate it into something in Law … or museum work … or HEY why not go to do another 3 years at EPBC and do something ministry related … after that I began working “temporarily” in the office at the church on the mountain … needing to pay off those student loans. The first week of July I will have been at my temporary job for 15 years … yes indeedy that is correct. I’m expecting much fanfare and bro-ha-ha-ishness in celebration of that fact.

Tres … I lied about the last sentence in Numero Dos

Cuatro … I’m still seriously considering running away to get married … I can’t handle the pressure of the “who makes the invite list.” Glyn was asked by his mother this weekend if we were inviting church staff … she thought that we should … I think … “if I want a wedding with about 100 peops I really don’t want about 25% of them to be church on the mountain co-workers and their spouses … and if I don’t invite them all how do you decided WHICH ONES make the list?” … And the money that we are presently saving for THE DAY and the DAYS TO FOLLOW can be spent rather nicely on a house down payment … who knows … You may all one day read … “hey we ran away” …

Cinco … I’m incredibly nationalistic ... and eagerly looking forward to the Olympics in August. I can get weepy watching the Olympics and watching Canadian singing along as the anthem is played. Seriously … have you ever checked out Chandra Crawford and her singing during the national anthem … no timid little lip syncing with that girl!

Seis … I don’t speak Spanish … but I think it would be a sexy linguistic to pick up … or maybe I’ll just see if Glyn will learn to speak English with a Spanish accent … that would work too. :)

90 | 65

2008-05-18T23:00:00.004-04:00

Those are two pretty significant numbers.

Tonight, at the church on the mountain,

we celebrated those two numbers.

They are a quick description of the life of a man.

Rev. George P. Tunks

He celebrated his 90th birthday on Thursday.

Tonight we celebrated his retirement ...

from 65 years of ministry.

He was born 1 year before the official formation of the

Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada.

The same year as another great preacher:

Billy Graham.

His first wife, Ruth, was the first women ordained by the PAOC.

At the age of 83 he was hired part-time, to pastor our Seniors,

he told our Senior Pastor:

"I can give you seven years!"

Can you imagine?

Almost 20 years past the time everyone else is looking to retire ...

I can't even begin to imagine the number of lives he has touched.

The souls that are in the kingdom because of his faithfulness to the Call.

A humble man.

An intelligent man.

A gentle man.

A man faithful to the Word.

A man who's appeal reached across generational lines.

A man with a snappy sense of humour.

"I woke up happy ...

and I'm happy i woke up."

I'm going to miss him around the office.

I'm glad I'll still see him in the pew.

VACATION - DAY 4

2008-05-13T22:28:00.006-04:00

approximately 252

(ok that's more specific than approximate)

photos snapped today

shutter-bug friend and i did an RBG Dundas Rail Trail expedition today

she took more than i did

here are a few

VACATION - DAY 3

2008-05-12T23:00:00.003-04:00

... Calvin was given a bath ...

... Glyn & I got passport pictures taken ...

... we looked at wedding bands ...

... we picked up the bikes from their spring tune ups ...

... we had dinner at Milestone's ...

... it was our 1 year anniversary since the first date ...

... and it was FREE ...

... he had a $100 gift card from Horton's ...

... something about a thank you for 7 year safety record ...

... i wonder if my employer could do something like that ...

... ok ...

... i've stopped laughing about that now ...

... here's the picture of the day ...

BLEEDING HEARTS from the back yard

they look a little like pink turtles to me

VACATION DAY 2

2008-05-11T14:59:00.003-04:00

THANKS MOM!

my mom and the ginormous arrangement from my brother.

he's just finishing up a 3 year work term in Qatar for Exxon/Mobil

the first year he sent flowers, the delivery slip said:

"called in from Khandahar"

the arrangement was HUGE

bigger than the one's he typically sends

i'm thinking they misheard Qatar / Khandahar

and thought he was some Canadian soldier

sending his mamma flowers and made it HUGE for him

Qatar is NOT Khandahar

next year when the call comes in from Calgary

it will probably go back to normal

VACATION DAY 1

2008-05-10T15:31:00.004-04:00

i'm going to do my best over the next 10 days

YES 10 DAYS!

i love it when a vacation week ties into a long weekend!

... as i was saying ...

i will do my best to submit a photo a day

but we all know about the best laid plans

of mice and men

here's number #1

my new neighbour

appears to be an only child

the nest is under the carport

it's really the perfect location for the home of a bird

out of wind, rain and the reach of critters that might do harm

under the snowbank

2008-04-03T08:38:00.002-04:00

I'm amazed at what "springs" to life under

the snowbank in the front yard.

can ya smell it?

2008-03-29T11:05:00.002-04:00

SPRING ...

it's almost here!

ENOUGH ALREADY!

2008-03-08T12:35:00.001-05:00

MY WEEK IN SUMMATION

2008-02-23T08:02:00.001-05:00

STEVE AUSTIN

2008-02-07T13:20:00.000-05:00

A car barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild it.

We have the technology. We have the capability to build it to be

better than it was before.

Better, stronger, faster.

yeah ... ummmm ...

"cracked coil pack"

"nothing to do with the accident"

REALLY?

"nope"

BUT ...

"can't run it through insurance"

HOW MUCH?

"$536"

OI!

so ... it's fixed ... it's running ... smoothly and effeciently

i'm thinking that apart from another idiot running stop signs ...

I'm good for another 5 years or so!

A GROWING APPRECIATION ...

2008-02-03T15:05:00.000-05:00

So …

I picked up the car on Saturday … looked all spiffy and shiny and stuff. Drove the future mother-in-law to the airport … car was hesitating a little while idling at stop-lights. I thought to myself … maybe it’s because it’s been sitting for 3 weeks …

This morning on my way to church … I hop on the Red Hill. It won’t accelerate above 80 km … and then … Losing power … drops to about 40 km …

Toss on the hazard lights and pray my car to the first exit (Mud & Stone Church) … get on to Mud Street thinking … I’ll go to the Petro-Can at Mud & Paramount. The car picks up speed again as I’m on level ground and gets back up to 80. I pull into the station.

Thinking to myself … maybe if I top up the fuel with some premium …
I do that … and hop in to see what it will do … and it won’t even start.

GOOD GRIEF!

Hop out of car … and enter Petro-Can … I’m developing a fondness for them of late. Petro-Can girl lends me her phone to call CAA … I’m on hold for awhile. So I’m glad I’m using her phone instead of my pay as you go cell … because I’m thinking my $13.25 wouldn’t have lasted long. While on hold I’m texting people that need to know I won’t be at church any time soon.

Waiting on CAA … Petro-Can girl offers me a free coffee. It’s not Second Cup, but I’m taking. We’re chatting … we’re catching up on the tragic details of Heath Ledger’s life. CAA arrives and we return the car to CARSTAR’s lot because the work is guaranteed. While in the lot someone comes and asks him to get him into their car … keys locked in … in some industrial spot across the street … he says “you got $40?” He gets them in … and as we’re driving away I say … “and of course they ARE the owners of the vehicle” He responds … “the keys were in the ignition … I don’t ask for proof of ownership … if they have the cash I get them in.” Kelly thinks to self … “excellent!”

From there we head to Enterprise for a new rental (what do you think it will be this time????) … uh oh … CLOSED! ACK! He gives me a ride to the Stoney Creek arena … I’m walking home from there … because … well … after the whole I don’t ask for proof of ownership issue … I don’t know that I want him knowing where I live.

SO … Glyn will drive me to Carstar tomorrow morning … we’ll have them arrange a rental … and hopefully I’m at work early enough to not waste the day but late enough to miss the Monday morning meeting!

I’ll be sure to let ya’ll know what I’m driving.

MY RIDES

2008-01-29T10:07:00.001-05:00

I was driving the fire red dodge avenger ...

I'm presently driving the midnight blue pontiac grand prix ...

Had dropped my bro off at the bus station on Sunday night ...
Weird light came on ... pulled into the Petro Can at Main & Walnut ...
Yep that light would indicate a flat tire ...
Called the fiance ...
He came and changed it for me ...
He's a keeper! :)

I'm wondering what else can happen ...
What else can I test drive ...
While waiting for my car to be fixed

AVENGER

2008-01-15T11:38:00.000-05:00

... FIRE RED ...
that's what I'm presently driving.
I feel very Shera-ish while driving it.
How can you not?
An AVENGER ...
and FIRE RED ...
not just red ...
but FIRE RED!

It's totally NOT my personality.
But I'm going to see if I can alter my personality for 3 weeks.
That's how long I have the rental.

I was kinda hoping I'd get a write-off declaration from my insurance.
Because I could get a good used car ...
toss some of the spare loonies in the ING Marriage account.
but apparently it's repairable.

The frame is good.
I'm trusting the garage ...
and more importantly GOD to look after it all.

NOT THE MORNING I WAS PLANNING

2008-01-09T16:23:00.000-05:00

so there i was ... driving mom downtown to renew her Health Card.
some dude runs a stop sign
smacks into my car ... driver's side rear ...
spins me ... ACROSS TWO LANES of ONCOMING TRAFFIC

THANK GOD ... the lanes were clear ... at 9:00 AM ... a miracle in and of itself
as I'm spinning I'm looking at someone in front of me walking on the sidewalk
"DEAR JESUS!" uttered by me ... by Mom
i come to a rest across the far lane of traffic with my front tires up on the curb
my glasses had been knocked off my head
I have no idea how the air bags didn't deploy but am grateful because sometimes they make things even worse

Mom is ok ...
I'm ok ...
my car ... not so ok
the back drivers side tire is flat and the back rear panel / back door punched in

call to CAA ... "i need a tow truck" ... "we can't release one until there is a police report"
call to police ... "is anyone hurt?" ... "no not really" ... "we can't send an officer unless there is an injury ... you need to come to a reporting centre" ... "but they won't send a truck until there is a police report ..."

... as the circle of frustration continues to grow a tow truck arrives unannounced and unsolicited ... but I'll take ...

he says ... Eastgate Ford uses blah blah garage I can take you there from the reporting centre ... and arrange a rental ... I'm like "ok"

... get to reporting centre and the dude there says "where are you having the car towed" ... i tell him and he says to the cop at the desk ... "Would you take your car to blah blah?" NO is the response ... "the tow guy is getting kickbacks and they are brutal" ... GRRRRR (can i say how much i despise people that take advantage of people in a vulnerable place?)

ok ...call my garage for their recommendation (they don't do body work) and they say ... "Take it to Eastgate Ford they have a body shop right next door (CARSTAR) and they are the best in the city" ...

i tell the tow dude and he's all bent out of shape ... "well this tow will be costly ... i would have just billed this into the insurance thing" ...I'm like ... "buddy's insurance is covering this ANYWAY ... take me to Eastgate Ford" ... he does ...

the lady there says ... "yeah ... that's a scam why would we send our cars to someone else when we have CARSTAR next door?" They arranged my rental ... which is covered in my insurance anyway

...OI ... after all that we ran downtown and got her health card (as hers expires next week ... and she's got Doc appointments the week after) ... run up to BGT to say "I'm going home" ... share the details with coworkers for a bit.

I went to the Urgent Care ... my neck is stiff and sore ... back too ... just wanted it documented medically. Doc said ... "i don't think we need to bother with Xrays ... you've not broken anything ... but we'll get this documented for Insurance or police reports"

HOME ... call insurance company ... call Glyn ... he's like ... "I'm coming home now" I said ..."you don't need to ... I'm fine ... just come down after work"

OI ...I've taken a Tylenol 3 and I think i will lay upon my couch ...
I'm weary ...the adrenalin has worn off

OI ...
GOD IS GOOD ...what could have been ... scary

BE IT RESOLVED ...

2008-01-01T19:23:00.000-05:00

TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2008

1. Get out of debt or save money
2. Lose weight
3. Develop a healthy habit (e.g., exercise or healthy eating)
4. Get organized
5. Develop a new skill or talent
6. Spend more time with family and friends
7. Other
8. Work less, play more
9. Break an unhealthy habit (e.g., smoking, alcohol, overeating)
10. Change employment

Franklin-Covey did the survey. (Covey is of the Stephen Covey of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) They polled 15,301 people and this was the sum of all their hopes and dreams for 2008. Franklin-Covey also discovered that 35% of people break their resolutions by the end of January. 40% say it’s because they have too much on their plate, and 33% say they aren’t really committed to their resolutions. Only 23% attain their resolutions.

They’ve come up with 8 things that will help you be part of the 23%

1. Think of your resolutions as goals (they are more specific than vague resolutions … which is funny when you think of the phrase I resolve … that doesn’t seem vague that seems rather firm to me!)
2. Set only 1 or 2 realistic goals (see we’ve already changed the vocab!)
3. Write down your goals (so you have a record of future failure! :) You are supposed to write them and keep them in a place you can review them periodically … so napkin scraps tossed in the back seat don't bode well for the 23% success rate!)
4. Take baby steps (break your goal down into manageable bites and schedule them … already … the creative part of my brain is atrophied … I don’t schedule things well)
5. Go public (this is part of #3 … so your failure can be mocked by a good friend!)
6. Track Your progress (where is that scrap of napkin ???)
7. Reward Yourself (I have no issues with that … I’m all about that)
8. If you slip-up … Recommit (Don’t get discouraged if you slip up. Everyone has bad days. Just forgive yourself, recommit to your goal and keep moving forward. Stay energized and motivated to achieve the end result. … I actually really like this last statement … pretty much summarizes the Christian walk … except we also get to count on God’s showing us Grace, Mercy … )

The question is … do I do a resol … I mean set a New Year’s goal?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2007-12-31T09:28:00.000-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2007-12-22T19:26:00.000-05:00

SNOW DAY! :)

2007-12-16T18:34:00.000-05:00

... shovelling aside ...

I'm not sure why they are still smiling ...

not sure i would be buried up to my neck in snow!

If you look very, very closely ...
you may be able to see Mr. Tumnus in the shadows

ONE GOLDEN RING

2007-12-03T11:42:00.000-05:00

psssst ...

i'm engaged!

no date set ...
looking at a year and a bit time frame ...
it will be small ...
it will be simple ...

it may involve running away :)

40 YEARS AGO ...

2007-11-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

Jackie was hangin' in Cambodia the week before my birth.

Some of the songs people were groovin' to:

I'm A Believer - Monkees

To Sir With Love - Lulu

Ode To Billie Joe - Bobbie Gentry

Groovin' - Young Rascals

Light My Fire - The Doors

Happy Together - The Turtles

Respect - Aretha

All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

Penny Lane - The Beatles

I Heard It Through the Grape Vine - Gladys Knight & The Pipps

Georgy Girl - Seekers

Reflections - The Supremes

Baby I Need Your Lovin' - Johnny Rivers

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

I Say A Little Prayer - Dionne Warwick

There's A Kind of Hush - Herman's Hermits

Don't Sleep In the Subway - Petula Clark

The Beat Goes On - Sonny & Cher

I Dig Rock & Roll Music - Peter, Paul & Mary

You know you were singin' along to most of them!
You can click on the titles for the original artist's rendition!
I love the music of that decade!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

MY HELP

2007-10-26T08:51:00.000-04:00

Mt. Hood, reflecting on Trillium Lake in Oregon

I was thinking of this photo last night during choir practice.

It's one I snapped a few years ago

while on a west coast road trip with my brother.

Thought about it because of a song we're singing.

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's MY HELP
.

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills

From whence cometh my help

My help cometh from the Lord

The Lord Which made heaven and earth

He said, He will not suffer thy foot;

thy foot to be moved

The Lord Which keepeth thee

He will not slumber nor sleep

For the Lord is thy keeper

The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand

Upon thy right hand

For the sun shall not smite thee by day

Nor the moon by night

He shall preserve thy soul

Even forever more

My help, My help My help, All of my help Cometh from the Lord

It's one of my favourites from BTC.

Simple

Scriptural

Comforting

Encouraging

Faithful-building

Powerful

Enjoy the audio version HERE

MY HELP - Jackie Gouche Farris, 1997 Iriving Music, Inc. / J Gouche Publishing

ARE WE THERE YET?

2007-10-22T14:49:00.000-04:00

I've been told it's been a whole month (and a day) since I've done anything here. The question is .... does that mean i've seen nothing and learned nothing? That would be sad indeed. I have seen things ... there's a few pics posted below. I've learned a few things too (whew!)

Yesterday walking with Glyn and the kids to and through Battlefield Park. ARE WE THERE YET? I'm not quite sure how many times that phrase was uttered ... but it was greater than 15 and less than a million.

It's a phrase I've uttered on numerous occasions when in conversation with God. I sometimes get impatient with the journey. I'd like to arrive at the various destination spots along the way a little more quickly. I've learned though ... sometimes if I'm all impatient to "get there" I can miss some pretty impressive stuff along the way. I wonder if He gets tired of hearing the question?

SOME PICS FROM RECENT RAMBLINGS

Tyana, Glyn Jr & James @ Battlefield

Milkweed

Woodpecker @ RBG Arboretum

Dundas Rail Trail

Pelee & Long Point

2007-09-17T15:07:00.000-04:00

I think I LOVE my new camera!

Fun times were had with the family.

Lots of food was consumed.

Smores were created over and eaten 'round the campfire.

Beautiful weather and lots of big waves on the Lake.

All in all two thumbs up!

Monarchs hangin' at Long Point

Monarch soaking up sun at Point Pelee

Part of the Point Pelee Marsh Trail

Part of the Point Pelee Marsh Trail

The Calvinator - lovin' this whole off the leash thing!

GLEE

2007-09-10T12:43:00.000-04:00

There are a couple of reasons for the GLEEFULNESS:

My brother KEN is home for about 3.3 days.

He's been on a work contract in Qatar for 2 years.

He had to go to the home office in Calgary for a bit,

and a few days with family here for a bit.

The family is running to my aunt & uncle's cottage at Long Point.

I am the proud owner of a NIKON D40

I'll be playing with it a fair bit over the cottage days.
We're going to make a run to Point Pelee.
Hopefully the Monarchs will cooperate
and already be gathering for their migration to Mexico.

HAPPY THINGS

2007-09-06T12:22:00.000-04:00

Because Patti is a little weary of all the unhappiness
being spread about out there!

Here are some shots from BGT's annual

McQuesten Park Festival.
It's the PARTY we throw for our community.

'Cause you really can't go wrong with face painting,

jumpers & bunnies to pet!

SQUARE ONE

2007-08-27T15:06:00.000-04:00

"Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me." (Mark 18:2 – 5 MSG)

We had the annual Potma Family Reunion this past Saturday. Fun times … if you’re a kid that likes mud, like Justin. From the top of his head … to the tips of his toes … MUD! While the adults huddled under the protection of the picnic area roofs … hands wrapped around styrofoam cups of java … wishing the clouds would break and the sun would come out … Justin went about … having fun. Can ya hear his “vroom vroom” ? Nothing fazed him. Now the adults still managed to have their laughs and have their fun … but we didn’t embrace it in the same way some of the little ones did.

I need to learn to be more like Justin in the spiritual realm too. Sometimes the clouds come, open up and rain on my parade … the question is how do I respond to the rain? I need to go out and find some bright yellow rubber boots and matching rain slicker … I think that would help!

MY BACK YARD FRIENDS

2007-08-09T13:49:00.001-04:00

a little while later his mate showed up

for her turn at the sunflower seeds

EVERY BREATH

2007-07-25T10:19:00.000-04:00

Lord I give You my heart,
Lord I give You my soul,
I live for You alone.
Every breath that I take,
Every moment I'm awake,
Lord have Your way in me
1995, Reuben Morgan, Hillsongs

They are powerful words
I watched a man live that
To his very last breath

Diagnosed in April with brain & lung cancer. Through the past three months there was no raging. There was peace, there was assurance that every day of his life was in God's hands. There was hope that in the midst of it all, the estranged relationship with his brothers would be restored. And there was joy in the realization of that hope this past week.

On Monday, Dwaine Veysey closed his eyes.
On Tuesday, he took his last breath ...
opened his eyes and saw Jesus.

It was a privelege to be there.
It was an honour to know him.
I'm going to miss him.

It's Show Off Your Pet Week

2007-06-29T11:51:00.000-04:00

"He is not dead ... he is only sleeping."

It's one of my favourite pics of Calvin.
This is usually what he looks like at about 10 pm.
And it's usually at the end of the couch I'm laying on.

CHOIR FINALE

2007-06-04T15:27:00.001-04:00

I'm on summer vacation from choir.
It's a nice thing.
I LOVE choir, don't get me wrong ...
but summer break is nice too!
We had our finale last night.
Everything from Kids up through Seniors' Choir.
A FANTASTIC evening of worship & praise.

We wrapped it up

with one of my favourite songs of the season

from Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

honestly ...

I get shivers when we sing it ...

not because we're THAT great

(although we're not bad!) :)

but because it's become so real to us as a choir.

give a listen ...

BTC's Myspace has the song there for you to listen to

THOU O LORD

8 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME

2007-05-22T18:39:00.000-04:00

Apparently a game of tag is being played and I'm "IT". Hmmmm ... there are many times I receive these types of things as an email and I ignore. Perhaps that could be random thing #1 ... but that wouldn't be in the true spirit of the game would it?

I am to post the rules ... and here they are as they were given to me ... "Each person starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their eight things and post the rules. At the end of your blog, tag eight people and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog." I am declaring now ... I probably won't tag anyone else ... because frankly ... I don't know 8 bloggers that haven't already been tagged ... and I don't think strangers would want me doing that. Can you tell that I'm procrastinating?

1. I AM ... highly phlegmatic ... and well procrastination comes with the territory! You all should consider yourselves blessed that I'm responding to this as quickly as I am! :)

2. I HAVE ... rafted the Nile ... and nearly died ... I have pictoral evidence! At least of the rafting not of the nearly dying ... thankfully the guides were guiding at that point and not snapping pics with the waterproof camera from a distance!

3. I MUST ... have a nibble of really good chocolate almost every day! I can skip a day but I get the shakes and can be a little irritable.

4. I CAN ... quote almost verbatim the entire movie "The Sound of Music" ... and a life long dream is to go to Austria and twirl about as Maria did on that side of the mountain while singing "the hills are alive with the sound of music."

5. I AM ... the youngest of 4 children and the only girl ... and I am not / was not spoiled. HONEST ... well maybe a little, but not nearly as much as my three big bro's would claim! ;)

6. I OCCASIONALLY ... (well ok ... fairly often) snort in the midst of laughter ... I come by it honestly ... it's genetic on my mother's side.

7. I ABSOLUTELY ... love Calvin and Hobbes ... I can still laugh out loud while reading old strips.

8. SOMEONE ... I would love to have dinner with ... (you know the whole anybody living or dead question) ... would be Corrie ten Boom. One of my heroes of the faith ... I would love to be able to pick her brain.

VACATIONS ...

2007-05-08T21:10:00.000-04:00

are glorious things ... even if you stick close to home. I've spent a fair bit of time sitting in the lounge chair on the back deck reading. Some of it mindless (Grisham's "The Chamber") and some of it stuff that makes you think (Erwin Raphael McManus' "Uprising")

Have also been out and about along some local trails. The trillium's are in full force. And this weekend I even spotted the rarely found burgundy trillium.

And made it to the RBG for the tulips in the Rock Garden ... camera's battery frustratingly dying about an hour after arrival ... the one frustration of digital camera's! But I managed to get some nice shots ... both flora & fauna ... was startled by a rather larger Garter Snake sunning itself on one of the rocks ... it was at least 18" long and a good 1" thick! It slithered away quick enough.

And tomorrow it's the first MAJOR bike ride of the season ... Dundas Rail Trail here I come ... I'll probably be lounging again on Thursday to recoup! :)

SIGNS SIGNS EVERYWHERE ARE SIGNS

2007-05-03T14:17:00.000-04:00

To get to work I drive up Hwy 20 to get to the LINC.

Each spring I drive very carefully

(well I drive carefully year round but that's not my point)

while craning my neck and squinting my eyes

looking for splashes of white on the escarpment.

I saw some early this week and I got my SIGN

I am no long NEARLY GIDDY ... it's full-fledged now.

So today at lunch I hit the wooded area behind the church.

Trilliums spread out far and wide.

I HEART SPRING!

JUST BECAUSE

2007-04-25T15:03:00.000-04:00

One of the left-over flowers

from a women's meeting this week.

Lilies are a favourite of mine

UN

2007-04-23T12:40:00.000-04:00

One of the choir songs for this season is one that I would call an "ouch song". Not the triumphant ... woohoo God songs ... but man is it powerful ...

For all the times I’ve been unfaithful
For every time I’ve been untrue
For every time I’ve been ungrateful
For all You’ve done and all You do

For when my pride has been unbroken
For when my soul has been unmoved
For all the praise I’ve left unspoken
When I owe everything to You

For when my heart has been unyielding
When my devotion went unproved
For all the days I’ve been unwilling
To take my cross and follow You

Please forgive me

Oi ... sometimes ... i can do all the "right" things when it comes to visible things and blow it so bad on the unseen things ...

Please Forgive Me (Travis Cottrell, David Moffitt & Sue C. Smith.) c. 2003 New Spring.

NEARLY GIDDY

2007-04-14T08:27:00.000-04:00

It's true. I am ... nearly giddy ... but not quite really giddy. SPRING is here. Now I'm a good Canadian. I can enjoy snow. If it doesn't come in a wave of storms that need to be constantly shovelled out of my driveway ... but SPRING ... I love it....

.... stuff is coming up ... bits of bright in amongst the dull vestiges of winter. That's why I'm only just "nearly" giddy ... the REALLY giddy will come when there is more bright than dull.

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush" (Doug Larson, Olympic Runner)

While there may not be slush in my shoes ... there's still some brisk winds blowing ... but I won't wear the winter coat anymore ... I'd rather be cold than admit I still need it. It's spring ... I shouldn't need it anymore ... right?

MY FUZZY TEACHER

2007-03-15T16:04:00.000-04:00

You will probably see a fair number of pics of Calvin on this blog because:

A) he's as cute as the dickens, and

2) I actually learn stuff from him

When I take him for walks, he will often walk and look backward at the same time ... kinda like this pic (although my calling his name from behind with a camera in hand didn't really help him in his looking forward). I'm sure the fact that Calvin's a 15 lb ball of fluff who's been attacked on 3 occasions by a 60 lb evil German Shepherd plays a role in his walking habits. But, it can be rather frustrating for me the walker. It makes forward motion kinda tough some times.

I can pull a Calvin on occasion. Keep looking back ... sometimes it's at the rough stuff of life -- the regrets ... the coulda, shoulda's of life, but sometimes it can be at the good stuff too. And while reflection is a good thing from time to time ... it can also really hinder forward movement.

I suppose the lesson to be learned is the balance of when to reflect and when to push forward.

One ... Two ... Three ...

2007-03-14T21:22:00.000-04:00

JUMP!

And with that I enter the blogging world. Hmmm ... seems to be alright. I'll have to poke around the rooms, peek in the cupboards ... and see if I can make this a comfortable little cyber world.

The title of the blog ... probably a good summation of what this will become. I'm a bit of a photo freak. I love what a great image can do for the heart, mind and soul. So some of what will be put on here will be things I see as I'm out and about with a camera ... or browsing the net. Some of this will be things I learn along this road. Because really ... what's the point of the journey if we don't learn anything?

I have a hard time believing this will be a daily thing ... good grief ... that would require A LOT of learning ... and rambling. :) But I'll try and be semi-faithful.