2009

I'll abide in the vine
Eat healthy when I dine

I'll watch the bottom line
With God's help I'll be fine

The choices are all mine
In 2009

Be grateful and don't whine in 2009.

Author: My Mom

CHRISTMAS QUOTES

"Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas."
Johnny Carson


"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph."
Shirley Temple


"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall."
Larry Wilde

You've Got The Power!

Today I'm attending a conference entitled: YOU'VE GOT THE POWER!

One of the keynote speakers is: Mike (Pinball) Clemons.

Now, you may be thinking this is a 'church' event.

Given the title and the speaker that would seem reasonable.

However, this is actually a scheduled activity for our local school board's non-instructional day.

Those of you who know me well, know that I can find humour in just about anything...and this is no exception!

Winter Wonderland

Thanksgiving Weekend

Enjoying a walk at the Bay.

I got pretty close to some

deer at Silent Lake.

It was a gorgeous day!!

For Maureen

For Shari

GRADUATION

I AM: loved
I THINK: about how I will be remembered by my children
I KNOW: I am not alone although there are times of loneliness
I WANT: to remain teachable
I HAVE: the ability to choose my attitudes
I WISH: my children weren't subjected to divorce
I HATE: hypocrisy
I MISS: the family unit
I FEAR: snakes
I FEEL: a sense of loss
I HEAR: Austen playing the guitar
I SMELL: lilacs
I CRAVE: chocolate and coffee
I SEARCH: for blessings in the midst of challenging circumstances
I WONDER: what lies ahead
I REGRET: not enjoying my children more when they were little
I LOVE: time with my children
I ACHE: when I miss my children
I CARE: for my family and friends
I ALWAYS: find something to laugh about
I AM NOT: perfect
I BELIEVE: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
I DANCE: with my kids
I SING: in many places....bathtub....van...church...etc
I DON'T ALWAYS: keep my closet organized
I FIGHT: with my own thoughts at times
I WRITE: because I enjoy it
I WIN: when I don't give up
I LOSE: when I try to do things on my own strength
I NEVER: doubt that God is here...although there is a lot I don't understand
I CONFUSE: the world when I choose to forgive and let go
I LISTEN: to Godly counsel
I CAN USUALLY BE FOUND: in my house or at my sister's
I NEED: God's presence
I AM HAPPY ABOUT: being raised by God-fearing parents

Bird's Eye View

I've been enjoying watching the geese and ducks from my sunroom.

Prayer

Thanks for your prayers everyone. Please continue.

JUST FOR FUN

What I was doing ten years ago:

I was a housewife and mother of three children, ages 5 and under. My spouse and I were very involved in a church plant in our community. We had recently completed building a garage and were saving towards buying a family cottage.

Five snacks I enjoy:

chocolate
popcorn
pretzels
chips
lattes

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Take my family on a vacation
Pay off church debt
Pay off my siblings' debt
Contribute to various ministries (particularly those that focus on missions)
Purchase investments that can provide ongoing revenue for various ministry opportunities

Five jobs I have had:
home hospital teacher
educational assistant
supply secretary for school board
CAS
children's resource centre coordinator

Three of my habits:

laughing! (mostly at myself)
drinking coffee
traveling on weekends

Bad Habits:

procrastinating on filing
fiddling with my hair
overbuying groceries

Four Places I have lived:

Bancroft
Kingston
Peterbough
Shawville

Five things not many people know about me.

As a child I attended summer school one year.
I was the youngest student in my class every year.
I was the shortest in my class until grade nine.
In high school I was the student's council treasuer and newspaper editor.
I started university at the age of 17.

Now it's your turn....

Roxanne Needs

...according to Google

a man
to provide appropriate structure (time & space boundaries)
the spark of poetry to kindle her passion
a man
a man
a man
a man
to hit the treadmill and push away from the table
some touching
to stop
a man
a man
all committee members and Den Leaders to indicate if they are willing to serve
a shopping spree
to be with her children in her own house
to be found
a man
a man
a man
a man
a coaxing from Zeus
to have an estimate from your den prior to the event
her space
moderators to help with the session at the state
to drop the superior attitude
to get good regular sleep to keep her high-energy life-style
a slightly new dress every night
a shower

Apparently I REALLY NEED A MAN!!

Request

I am asking for prayer. I am sorry that I cannot go into any detail on this site. I have some huge challenges before me.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything.
C.S. Lewis

An excuse is a reason, stuffed with a lie.
Joyce Meyer

Patience carries a lot of wait.
author unknown

To Confess and Pray

Over your children EVERY DAY

You are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. (Deut. 28:13)

No weapon formed against you will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

God hasn't given you a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. (II Tim. 1:7)

You have the mind of Christ & you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (I Cor. 2:16 & Phil. 4:13)

You are Jesus' little sheep and the voice of a stranger you will not follow. (John 10:3-5)

You have a circumcised heart and you love the Lord your God will all your heart and soul. (Deut. 30:6)

You obey your parents and will enjoy a long life. (Eph. 6:2)

You have hidden God's Word in your heart so that you will not sin against Him. (Psalms 119:11)

God's Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. You're surrounded with favor like a shield. (Psalms 119:105, 5:12)

You have the joy of the Lord as your strength. (Neh. 8:10)

A Little Canadian Humor

Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Canooks.

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in Canada.
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Canada.
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Canada.
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Canada.
If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Muncie for the weekend, you may live in Canada.
If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Canada.
If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Canada.
If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again, you may live in Canada.
If you can drive 90 kms/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Canada.
If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Canada.
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Canada. If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Canada.
If the speed limit on the highway is 80km -- you're going 90 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Canada.
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Canada.
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you may live in Canada.
If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Canada.
If you find 2 degrees 'a little chilly', you may live in Canada.
If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your Canadian friends & others, you definitely live in Canada

Bet you didn't know...

that I own these sexy boots!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE NORTH OF SEVEN WHEN.......

Winter....this too shall pass!

Check out this music video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IIXeR5OUI

Renew Your JOY

7 Promises to Renew Your Joy
By Joyce Meyer


These seven promises will encourage you as you choose (emphasis mine) to be joyful each day.


BE LED BY THE SPIRIT
Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
II Cor. 3:17

BE FREE IN CHRIST
And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for Your precepts.
Psalm 119:45

BE UNCOMPLICATED
I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved. He will come in and he
will go out, and will find pasture.
John 10:9

BE CONFIDENT IN GOD
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on
your own insight or understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

BE QUICK TO FORGIVE
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Col. 3:13

BE OUTRAGEOUSLY BLESSED
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your
heart.
Psalms 37:4

BE CONTENT
...for I have learned how to be content in whatever state I am.
Phil. 4:11

Seek His Face

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine upon you
And be gracious to you.
The Lord turn his face toward you.
And give you peace.

Numbers 6:25-56

Philippines Missions Trip

I Can See Clearly Now

Rebekah and I have been singing this around the house lately. Maybe it'll cheer you up as you WAIT for Spring! You may wanna exchange the word 'rain' for 'snow'!!


I can see clearly now the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way,
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.

I think I can make it now the pain is gone,
And all of the bad feelings have disappeared,
Here is the rainbow I've been praying for.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.

Look all around, nothing but blue skies.
Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies.

I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.

GOD LOVES YOU

The following words brought a lot of comfort to me in my early days as a single parent. It was written by Mark Heimermann & Wayne Kirkpatrick and sung by Jaci Valesquez.

In the quiet
Love is reaching
It's yours to hold
Be still and know that
Even when you're
Lost and lonely
And hope is gone
You're not alone

Far beyond the
Understanding
There's a hand that leads
If you believe

Through the darkness
See the light
Remember God loves you

The road ahead is
Long and winding
With eyes of faith
You'll find a way
And when the journey
Leaves you weary
You can rest in the comfort
Of heaven's arms - sweet loving arms

Peace will follow
Peace be with you always
As you go
For now you know that
Through the darkness
There's a light
Remember God loves you

When you open up your heart
His love will meet you where you are
He will always be a part of everything you do
He is here to set you free
And give you all the strength you need
To carry on
To carry on

Through the darkness
See the light
Remember God loves you
Remember God loves you

A SURE SIGN...

...THAT SPRING IS ON IT'S WAY!!!

Wisdom vs. Foolishness

I heard an interesting interview on Life Today. The guest was Jan Silvious, who discussed her book 'Fool Proofing Your Life'.

Jan describes a fool as one who: always thinks they're right
uses anger to control
trusts in their own heart because they are their own god

Jan provided wisdom as to how to have healthy boundaries with these type of people. I think as Christians we can struggle with establishing these boundaries.

The interview is available online at http://www.lifetoday.org/

The Promise of Spring

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Ponderings from My Heart

Some of my friends have more than suggested that it's time for me to post a new entry. So here goes. It's simply some of my thoughts as I reflect on the past year and look to what lies ahead.

I recall, toward the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007, making an important decision. I made the decision to move from just surviving to thriving.

In survive mode you just get by. In survive mode you can't see beyond your present situation. In survive mode you are consummed with making it through. In survive mode you are more focused on yourself than those around you. In survive mode all of YOUR energy is used up....there never seems to be any extra to enjoy life.

In thrive mode you rise above the circumstances. In thrive mode you see the blessings in the midst of challenging circumstances. In thrive mode you get strengthened as you learn to trust HIM, knowing HE is in full control. In thrive mode it is not about trying to stir up enough energy to get through but actually being energized by HIM as you learn to let go and acknowledge that HE is in full control. In thrive mode it is less about you and more about HIM.
In thrive mode you are able to rejoice with others and in their blessings.

I am amazed at the power of decision. My circumstances are really no different now than what they were a year ago. What is different is their ability to impact me negatively. Oh, I still have moments but they are less frequent and more brief.

With the decision to move from survival to thriving, I had to let go of some ugly stuff - bitterness, unforgiveness, rejection, etc.. This was the best thing I could do for myself and my children. With my decision my mind had to be renewed. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

I made the decision to focus on things that were consistent with where I wanted to be. If I continued with the same thought patterns ultimately my speech would continue to reflect that of just a surviver. I would continue an unhealthy cycle...negative thoughts...negative speech...which feeds the negative thoughts, etc..... I chose to seek His Face and not just His Hand. Seeing Him, right with me, whether I saw a change in circumstance, moved my focus from getting OUT of a situation to experiencing His Presence IN the circumstance.

I realize that in difficult times it is natural to be in a place of survival. The danger comes when we allow this season to put limits on ourselves, when we get stuck in that place and it becomes who we are.

I don't know what 2008 will bring but I do know that He has not failed me yet. I can count on Him. He has blessed me and will continue to do so. He will restore to me the years the locusts have eaten.

God desires to bless each of you. He is the ultimate Dad who knows just what you need and when you need it. Above all He desires for you to know Him.

God Bless. Celebrate in 2008!