I love my girlfriends! Yesterday I threw together a girl's night at Earl's. I had a really nice time with some of the females in my life! There were 7 of us there and just talked, ate and I brought the wedding pictures for them to see. Afterwards, I got to see my old roomie's new house that she and her brother are in the process of moving into! Good-bye old appartment! I shall never see your insides again! Steph, Chris and I were going to see a movie at the cheapies, but we had a need to talk instead. We ended up parked in Movie Network's parking lot and talking in the car for quite a while before we decided to call it a night. I love my girlfriends! Such honesty can be shared with close friends and as Christina said, how come it is so easy to communicate and connect with your girlfriends and not always so easy with the opposite gender (paraphrased)?

Fortunately I have quite a good listener of a husband. Of course, naturally, some days we are on different pages in the connecting area, but I find that that isn't so frequent. I like that. I have definitely learnt a lot about communicating from Shane because over the almost 4 years of relationship he has really encouraged and challenged me to communicate fully and honestly. Sometimes I do need some time and other times I really don't know exactly what to say. It must drive him nuts but sometimes I finally hit the nail on the head and pinpoint exactly what I'm feeling after I've processed verbally for a while. All along he's thinking, "just get to the point woman!". But I really sometimes don't know what the point is until I hit it like a wall out of nowhere!

Tonight I am spending the evening with my wonderful husband! I'm really looking forward to it because we both worked evenings this week and this is our first evening together since sunday! I'm ready for some relaxing, quality time! ....I'm running only half full in the snuggle area! Unfortunately I tried to get someone to switch my weekend work shifts but no one could. This is Shane's one and only weekend off of August....and I'm working saturday through tuesday....bummer. Oh well, life goes on! At least we have tonight!

Well, it is my one day off out of 9 days and I'm going to spend the day at home! I'm going to clean, cook, bake, launder(?), read, bathe and shave! I will smell good and feel smoothe by the time my hubbie comes home! And I bought two new books about marriage at Blessings so I'm pretty pumped to relax and learn from them!

Have a great day!

Something inside of me sometimes longs for a conversation of substance, wisdom and spiritual stuff. I am feeling that way today after spending the weekend at Rock Lake! I have been focussing on working, cleaning my house and cooking meals. Can you believe it? Kristi...the one who never used to cook! Well, somehow it is coming naturally for me now and I am finding a lot of peace, relaxation and enjoyment in upkeeping our home! Thank-you Jesus, because that can only be supernatural!!!

But now I'm thinking that I don't want to swing too far both ways. See, I don't want to be the kind of person that is so "spiritualized" that they can't even live a normal life that inevitably includes bills, cleaning, cooking, relationships, conflict, love, etc. Because God made all these things to be included in the earthly life we live. These things are not just activities we must do but they can be life-giving and acts of worship as well. But, I can also see how it is easy to be side tracked by all these things and become soley focussed on these necessities of life. I want my life to be real. Including all these necessities, trials and joys....and be full of the presence and focus of God. I do want to have a new perspective and a new source of hope. I often feel like I have to do it all myself...that God isn't fast enough, or he's just not into doing what I want today. I know that my brain needs some new thought patterns, but that is sometimes how it works. I want to be able to trust that he will meet my needs and it doesn't mean in my timing. I just have to have faith and trust that he knows more than I do. I think I might have to get into the habit of surrendering all control each and every day. It is tiring when you feel like you have to make things happen.....

well, much is on my mind and heart today.....maybe I'll blog again in the next few days. I'm working evenings this week, so we'll see what kind of time I have! ....I think God is stirring some things up. I wonder what he's going to do and where we're going to end up..........

-very interested

What a nice weekend! We just got back from Rock Lake where we spent the weekend! The weather was pretty great...though I thought the water was cold so I spent my time on the beach instead of in the water!

My baby sister got baptized today! Yes, Loraleigh, it was this weekend and at Rock Lake, but I'm sure she'd take the prayer anytime! It was really great! My mom, brother, and dad came out, as well as some of Steph's girlfriends from high school! I thought that was super supportive of them! Good girlfriends rock! It was a very heart-warming time and I'm so proud of my sister! I'm so glad that she did it at the lake! A neat thing was that Alvina Peters (Bonnie's mom for those that know Bonnie) baptized me at Rock Lake when I was 8. We found out last night that there wasn't an appointed person to baptize Steph, so Alvina volunteered!! It was special because we absolutely love Alvina and now she's baptized both of us!

The speakers were pretty great too....it was a trio apostolic/prophetic team. Lots of good stuff! Shane and I were so tempted to quit our jobs today and stay out at Rock Lake for the rest of the summer. Our hearts are definitely there. Bummer that we need our jobs and money. If I wasn't in school.......it would have been tempting!

It was so fun to go to camp for the first time as a married couple! We got to stay in our own room and do our own thing as a family unit....even though we spent most of our time with people! I love my husband so much. As I told him before bed last night, I'm growing to love him more and more every day. I am so loving this thing of marriage!

Well, I have to pray for hope to survive 6 more weeks of work. I am hating it and it makes me feel a strong feeling of despair, but I don't really want to talk about that right now! The weekend was great and I'd rather enjoy that fact for now! Have a great night!

good morning. yes....a day off. time to clean the place up and bake some muffins again. apple cinnamon this time. grocery shopping with the sister is the plan for the evening and the husband is coming home for lunch this afternoon (working a split shift).  i need to recup today.
 
saw a great movie last night. The Notebook. there were many crying people in that theatre. very good and very sad. i never want to get old. the story line hit home a little closer due to the residents that i work with. a must see for females. very good. bring a girlfriend or multiple and some kleenex.
 
bye now

I just love the weather! Unfortunately during the day I've been working (last 3 days) but I've been able to enjoy the evenings! The evenings are so comfortable! We went to BDI for ice cream with our good friends of ours, Nat and Lance. It was wonderful to eat, laugh and watch the boaters and dogs playing in the water from the bridge. What a perfect night!
 
I'm really looking forward to tuesday and wednesday because it is my weekend! I've worked all weekend and with one more day shift to go, I'm excited for a day that I can sleep later than 5 or 6am! I'm not into those early mornings! Though, the world is quite beautiful and peaceful that early in the morning! I just hate being tired!
 
My sister is getting baptised a week from today! I'm excited for her and proud of her! She is such a super light in this world! I am amazed sometimes by her boldness and her ability to speak, act and pray so confidently. She'll talk to anybody about her Jesus! She teaches me things and challenges me by her boldness. To make the event even more exciting, we get to go to Rock Lake for the weekend! And my family will be there, including my pops! I really hope that the weather forcast is wrong and we have a great weekend ahead of us! But, I'm getting ahead of myself because I still have the week to live through! Still, I'm really looking forward to it!

So, today I'm a little bummed...I must admit. I don't like to admit this because then I feel like I'm not being positive. And when you are being positive, you can sometimes trick your being into thinking that you aren't bummed. I guess that sounds a little warped....but I hate feeling bummed.

I'm a little worried today. And I hate feeling that way too. I have a few things that I'm worrying about. I have a stupid grinding my teeth problem at night. I'm trying this new self-mold mouthguard, because the real ones are way too expensive! It is just not working. It is digging into the side of my gums and some of my teeth aren't even covered. It falls out too because it isn't molded right. So, sleep time, which is one of my favorite times of day, is sort of stressful for me because I feel like every night I'm doing permanent damage. That stresses me out. We just can't afford the mouthguard from the dentist because my benefits don't cover any of it and it is hundreds of dollars.

I'm a little stressed out about tuition and money. I'm just afraid that we won't have it by September. It makes me a little nervous. So, I'm feeling a little financial stress lately.

My job. I was honest with myself yesterday and finally said that I don't like it. I hate it that I'm working in a job that makes my back ache every day. I don't want to wreck my back for life at the age of 21. I don't like the management team, because everything is in the name of the budget and not for the employee. I'm so sick of politics and complaining, though I know that what people are complaining about is valid and true. I hate dreading work each day and having to go to bed so early so that I can get up far too early. I just am hating the despair that accompanies knowing that I have to work tomorrow and all weekend. I'm just bummed. The positive thing is that once I'm at work, besides the back pain, I'm fine. I do a great job and I don't mind it. It is when I go home and dread coming back the next day, that I feel crappy.

Boy, I hate sounding bummed and I hate complaining, but it sure does feel good to write out my feelings and be honest. Screw positivity at this moment. I'm bummed.

Hello fellow humans! It is finally a beautiful day in Manitoba!!! My sibs and I were thinking of beaching it today, but in the end are going to do that tomorrow with my hubbie and dad! It sounds like it will be pretty nice all weekend! Part of our decision was due to car issues. Please pray for our car because her ABS, service engine soon and trac off lights are on and won't turn off! Also as of two days ago, the head lights aren't going on automatically! That is really weird and our brakes are making squeaking noises! I think we really should get her checked out! Please pray that it is just a censor problem and not an actual one....something like this happened the week before the wedding and it was nothing! We really can't afford repairs!

So, I'm still hanging out in my sexy pj's.....I've become a sexy pj girl since graduating to "wife"! Soon my sibs and I will be heading to the mall...the bro needs pants and I need a big frying pan and some light bulbs!

Adios amigos!
kristi

Here I sit without my husband for the evening. I blessed him, while already missing him, to have an evening with a guy friend. So, here I sit at the computer and need to find an outlet. Here is a short story that was born out of my state.

Sisters
A short story for Stephanie

In the small town of Carmen, on a hot, sunny day, stood a tall cow in the middle of a yellow pasture. This cow had such a horrid look on her face that those that past stopped to look and ponder. The weather was odd that day in June and while staring at the old cow, people began to feel raindrops sprinkling on their bare shoulders and arms. See in Carmen in June it is summer weather and tang tops are a common article of clothing. An old woman had recently moved into the area to move in with her elderly sister. Both women were widows of a few years and both being alone had decided to become roommates. This warm weather was an adjustment for the elderly sister from Winnipeg because she was used to spontaneous snowstorms in June. See, the cow had brought the two sisters back together again. Years before the sisters had been visiting another state with their families and had spent an evening at the fair. A game that the two sisters had enjoyed as children was tipping cows in the pasture late at night, and trying not to get caught. Well, at the fair that one family day, there was a game with a cow. It involved soft balls, a heifer and stuffed animals for prizes. The sisters had such a blast that they vowed that every time one would see a cow for the rest of their lives, they would say a prayer for the other and call the other sometime that week. So, as the sisters aged, children moved on to start their own families and husbands were laid to rest, the sisters brainstormed about their futures. The two decided to merge households in Carmen, were the younger was located, and begin a cow farm. They had decided that if cows played a part in bonding them together over the years that they could give back to the cow family. So, as owners of a cow farm, the elderly sisters enjoy using their farm mostly as a petting zoo. This brings us back to the cow that day in the yellow pasture with the odd look. This cow was one of heifers from the sister farm that had misplaced her dear sister. The cow was going north and had stopped in her tracks when the breeze that the sisters normally felt while strolling together was felt blowing from the opposite direction than other days. The message of the missing sister was learned by all and news traveled fast through the small town of Carmen. The sister cow was found later that night, beside the pond, sharing with the frogs and toads about giving back to the community and how important sisters are.

So by now I am a married woman of over 3 weeks! I really like it!!

Today I finally have a day off! I worked quite a bit last week, but the killer part to my job is the physical labor of stretching, lifting, and bending and the killer early mornings! That early stuff is what gets me! I don't like getting up before 9:30am!!! Oh well, I just have to suck it up! At least with the early mornings of the day shift, I can see my husband in the evenings!

So, it is my day off and I am a little antsy....I really cannot think of how to spell that word right now! I want to see my wonderful friend that just started dating a boy that we have been talking about (for her) for months! I may go to the mall to check out if we can further the enjoyment of our home with anything...purchased with multiple gift certificates! Or I do have the chance to visit my mother and brother who are coming in to the city this afternoon! I just don't know!

Well, I think I'll start by getting rid of some old bananas and being a little domestic! I'm going to try to find a good recipe for banana muffins on the net because I usually just used Christina's (roommate), but now that is not in my house anymore!

Blah, blah, blah!
Talk to you later!
Kristi