Helping me feel confident that He will and does provide!

So, I had a very nice blessing this evening! Yes, some of you will know this story as you visually saw my reaction. Others of you know this story because you are the people or person behind the scenes that made it happen. Thank-you to you!

We were out at the Guses' farm, preparing to leave for home after a great day of friends, food, skating, snowmobiling, and a dip in the hot tub! Shane was loading up the van when he came back into the house telling me I had to go and look in the back of the van. It made me very interested and a little nervous....not being sure of what was back there!

When I got outside there was a wonderful surprise! A guitar case for me! Along with a wonderful note taped to the front saying "To: Kristi, From: God". I let out a huge, loud laugh that Shane could hear from inside the house, where the others were watching from the window! A laugh of delight and joy! I love when God and others being used by Him bless me in these kinds of exciting ways! Those kind of surprises rock!

So, I'm taking this act of provision as a sign for the year of God's awesome provision that is to come for 2007. It's nice that I would get a surprise blessing at the beginning of the year. It just represents to me that He wants to speak my language and provide for our every need! Even a case for my guitar!

Come to think of it, that makes two blessings for this week that have to do with God's provision. Earlier in the week, we received a support check. I wasn't expecting a cheque this month....and when I saw one in the mail, I thought I knew the value that would be printed on it. It was actually quite a bit more than I thought! Yeah God!

I trust that this year will be full of your awesome provision in our lives! Bring on the miraculous provision!

It's freezing out there!


-35 this morning.....feels like -48 with the windchill.
School get canceled for this kind of cold. Does it work the same for work?

Unfortunately people need the hospital at any and every time of life, convenient or not! So, storm or cold, I will make it in to see the ones that are welcoming life at this cold time of the month!

Hopefully I don't freeze on the way! Absolutely no slurpee today!

TRUE CANADIAN!!!!!

I must be a true Canadian and perhaps a little insane!

Why, you may ask? I had a headache at work. And after working a 12 hour day shift and getting a headache in the last few hours of it, it calls out for a slurpee run on the way home. Somehow the cold and probably the caffeine make the after-work headache feel better. I made the plan forgetting what the weather was outside until I talked to Shane at supper time.

So, for those who wander over to this blog that aren't enjoying our Winnipeg weather tonight.......it is -26 out there.....-40 tonight with the windchill!

Sure enough, I braved the freezing walk to my van, let her run a little, unplugged her, and went directly to 7-11.

Now, I'm in my warm home, hearing the wind outside and the prayer link inside, slurpee beside me and I think I'm going to go and enjoy a warm bath, with a good book and my slurpee!

Ahhh.....I am Canadian.

Song of Solomon

Starting this Sunday, I'm apart of a set at Sanctuary that is going to take an hour each Sunday to pray and sing through the book of Song of Solomon. I'm really looking forward to focusing on a new topic that is essential to my heart....intimacy with Jesus!

I was studying Song of Songs tonight and realized that if we were to focus on 2 verses each week, we would only get through the book for the first time in 14 and a half months! That means spring of 2008!!! Yikes! I don't think it will take that long, as not each verse may take as long as others...but I'm definitely into studying it for the year of 2007 for sure!!!

Jesus, unlock your heart to us this year. Show us your ravished heart as our Bridegroom God. We want to know your love more! We hardly know You, really. What makes your heart pound faster? What does it mean to your heart when you see my glance or hear my yes?

Happy New Year's!!!!!

Hope you all had a nice holiday time between Christmas and New Year's! Such a nice time of year!

I had a great Christmas, with my 7 days off, our nice family gatherings and a lot of relaxing home time, or so it felt!

As for New Year's, I worked 3 nights in a row, ending New Year's Day (yesterday) in the morning. It was a good weekend at work for the most part. I had an exciting middle shift especially.

I kinda delivered another baby! The reason I add "kinda" is because the baby really delivered itself! Right onto the bed! Yes, feel free to have a little surprised chuckle!

I knew it was going to come quickly so I was right at the edge of the bed and was in the process of putting on a clean pair of gloves. Well, I lifted up the blanket and sure enough, there was a baby under there! So, with all that surprise and excitement, I turned the baby over, clamped the cord and had the dad cut it....meanwhile calling to the nurse next door to come help me and call the doctor, who definitely didn't make the delivery! It was fun and funny all in one! That baby really did just fall out!

So, I enjoyed the excitement of my shift on New Year's Eve! I like my job!

So, here's the latest on the wrist.....

Yesterday I had an appointment with a sports medicine doc. I do not have a ganglion! And I do not have anything wrong with my bones according to the xrays. So no surgery! Yippee!!

What I do have are some very irritated tendons and the synovial spaces! So the big word is extensor tendonitis and synovitis. I went to my first massage appointment for it this afternoon and boy was there very painful moments but I think it was really good for my wicked tight forearm!

Yeah, there is recovery for tendonitis! And I want it quickly! So heat and ice, massage and stretches, complete with a topical anti inflammatory and we'll see what happens!

So, it's pretty good news but I'm still a little impatient to have this all behind me! I need peace and patience to enjoy the small steps toward healing!

I regret to inform you......

We did not win the lottery tonight =( Too bad for us! I was hoping to have the story of winning the lottery without ever having actually purchased a ticket!

But, on the other hand, we have the wonderful chance of learning more throughout this next year about faith and provision from our wonderful Father. Who wants to pass up that opportunity and take the easy route?

Yippppeeeeee!!!!

We opened presents and it feels like we won the lottery or had a bridal shower all over again! I'm pumped! And I do hope that we win the lottery this week, as there was a ticket in one of our cards! We'd definitely use that 8 million! We'd have no debt, a house and Sanctuary would OWN, yes own, a building!!!!

Merry Christmas again!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

It is quite early on Christmas (about 1am) and I still have to go to sleep so that I can wake up for Christmas!

We had a nice gathering with my dad yesterday and the Farrow's today, after a nice reduced Sanctuary day!

Off to bed I go! A full day ahead!

Let the holidays begin!!!!

I just finished my last shift before Christmas! I worked that past two nights and they were nice for me. I just love working only 2 in a row!

And now I have the Christmas week off! I have a great boss! I have from right now on the 22nd to the later evening of the 29th off from work! He gave me a great Christmas schedule!

And I've surprised myself in the last few days with how excited I'm getting about Christmas. It generally isn't a huge deal for me because I can celebrate the meaning of Christmas any day of the year! It's not the day that matters to me!

But, I'm a little extra excited about it this year. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I didn't get to do Christmas last year because I worked all of Christmas, missed family gatherings, Shane and I didn't give each other any presents and then off we went to OneThing. This year I get to make all family get-togethers but one, Shane and I are giving gifts to one another which is a special treat and I get a lot of Shane and family time this week! Yippee!

So, I should get to bed so that I can wake up and begin my week off!

Bummer!

I applied for a position that was looking better and better the more I thought about it. I've had it on my mind for the past 2 weeks...praying and thinking about it, whether it would be wise, etc. And I decided that it would be good! I was setting my hopes on it.

I couldn't stand the suspense any longer, so I called my boss this morning. There are two runners up in front of me! I'm really surprised because I didn't think anyone in their right mind would take the position except me! Everyone I talked to definitely wouldn't apply...so they said. So, I felt pretty good about it.

Looks like I'm out of luck. As my boss said, Carry on!

Fun festivities!!!!

I'm smelling good (wearing the perfume Shane likes that I rarely wear), looking fine (dressed up and even have mascara on which almost never happens!), and ready for a night out with the girls!

A few of my close dear friends and I are going out for our monthly girls day, but we always do something special for the month of December! Mmmmmm.....Pine Ridge Hollow! Very fun for the season!

Just waiting until it's time to pick up the ladies!

Let the gatherings begin!

Today is gathering #1 of the Christmas '06 season. We are going out to my mom's for the day! We generally don't do presents because we head out to a hotel for the weekend in the New Year instead. But us kids got her a little something this year!

Our gatherings are a little like a potluck, as I always bring the dessert and Steph always brings the drinks! It works pretty well that way.

I'm going to bring some games.....especially our newest addition...Killer Bunnies! Playing it with just 2 people isn't so fun. I think it will be much better with a few others!

Unfortunately, I had to miss my first day of work because of my wrist yesterday. I've had my brace on and off since Thursday night when I got home from work. It's been really sore. I even slept with the brace on the last two nights...it feels better on the wrist but ends up bothering my hand! I hadn't had to miss any work related to my wrist yet, but the last 3 days it has been really sore. I made it through my 12 hour shift on Thursday by massaging it, icing it multiple times and watching very closely what I was doing with my wrist. I was lucky that I had a really good assignment so I could use my wrist minimally.....but I can't count on that every shift! By 5:30am on Friday morning, we thought I should rest the wrist for the day. I'm glad I did. It is always really hard for me to not go in for a shift (which has only happened once since I started in August '05!)

So, keep praying for my wrist! I want it fully healed!

And I'm going to bring the brace, be careful today and enjoy my family and the yummy food! Merry Christmas!

Ahhhh....the good old wrist...

Time for a wrist update. Feeling a bit of disappointment. Last week was a fabulous wrist week! The most pain free week since August.

The last two days have been the most painful in the last few weeks. And my heart is disappointed. I was so hoping that last week meant my wrist was going to be pain free forever.

I let the supervisor know this morning that I'm having extra pain but coming in. She seemed to encourage me a bit to stay home...as she had an extra nurse to place. It seems way too complicated with WCB to introduce missing time into the picture. Hopefully I don't have to go home in the middle of the shift, because she'll already have canceled the other nurse. I hate those kind of decisions. But I'm going to work.

I still have an appointment with a sports medicine doctor right after Christmas. I was starting to hope last week that I wouldn't need him!

So, I continue to ask you all to pray. I want a fully restored wrist that functions fully and without any pain. My heart needs a little encouragement from the Lord about this healing thing. But, though I don't get it, I'll keep on praying faithfully!

Ahhhh....I love Wednesday mornings!

Wednesday mornings are one of my favorite times of the week! I love having the morning at home, and all to myself. It is some nice Kristi time. Shane goes out with Brian each Wednesday morning and though I sometimes want to sleep in, I try to get up when he leaves so that I get some valuable time to myself.

Wednesdays are generally the days that I get some good studying in. Right now I'm watching a DVD series on the Song of Solomon. I'm really enjoying it, but each DVD is so long that I have to break it up over the week!

Wednesdays usually means making a good supper too! And I like that! After coming off fast days on Tuesdays and having the day at home mostly on Wednesday, we make a point of having a yummy supper together! I also like that about Wednesdays.

Wednesdays are usually days that I can fit in a coffee with a friend! Today Christina and I are going for coffee to celebrate her birthday which was last Friday. It will be nice to get together! Then I'm going to do a little more Christmas shopping as we are having our first official gathering this Saturday and we wanted to get my mom a little something.

So, all in all, Wednesdays are in competition for my favorite day of the week. I love staying at home. I love alone time (sometimes). I love having yummy suppers with my hubbie. I love the occasional coffee with a good friend. I love having time to pray, read the Word and study more specifically.

Ahhh....I'm glad it's Wednesday!

Supportive Care in Labor......

That was the title of an all-day workshop I went to this past tuesday. I felt inspired when I left. And excited about my choice of career.

We went over a whole bunch of things to do in labor to provide support to a laboring patient. Almost everything that I have heard before, but definitely a good reminder! It inspired me to think a little more outside the box and try to be a little more creative when I can be!

So, today was my chance to try some things out! I had a low-risk, healthy patient with a happy baby (inside) that was hoping to have her baby without analgesia (drugs for pain). So, we did all kinds of things while laboring and while pushing. It was fun! And now I'm exhausted!

But, we got a beautiful, huge 10 pound baby out of the deal, with a beautiful delivery, and no pain meds used at all! Just what she wanted! And that she was so satisfied (and that she said my voice was so soothing for her throughout her labor) made me feel content and happy with the way I did my job today! (Deanna, I thought of you! You would have loved it!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINA!!!!!

Today is Christina's birthday! I hope that you have a fun day and enjoy the next year of 24 like crazy!

Two other friends of mine have also had birthdays this week - Erica and Heather - and both days I was meaning to call them and then it got too late! Bummer! So, Heather, if you are reading this, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO!

On the wrist front, I'm have a really good wrist week! Probably the best that it's been in the past 3 months or so! I'm very encouraged and praying that this means total and complete healing from this place forward!

Today I start my 3 day shifts in a row weekend. Usually if my wrist is going to hurt at all, it is going to be after this specific weekend in a month. So, here's the test!

I've had the least pain all week, compared to the past 12 or so and I have been able to play guitar almost every day without pain too! It's been so great! I'm very encouraged!

Shopping can be fun???

I went to the mall with Steph to look at possible Christmas gifts and we had a really fun time together! We both tried on clothes and actually found multiple things that worked and we would actually like!

I generally don't like the mall. I get super tired from a short walk in the mall - there is something that zaps my strength and endurance when I'm there.

But today was fun! We could have enjoyed hours more in the mall together! And so often, even if I'd like to buy something to wear (which is rare), there is nothing that I would like or would look nice. Today was different too!

Ahhhh....sisters rock! I had tons of fun with you Steph! Let's do that again!

So, now that Shane's had the day to blog an explanation......

Today marks 1 whole year without seizures! So, today is a special milestone in our house! Yippee! This means that I could soon have to share my van......=) I've had access to wheels at any time for a year and a half and that could soon change...and I'm definitely ok with that! It will be nice to have more than one driver in the house again!

Yeah for healing!

Today marks a special anniversary.......Shane's got dibs on the explanation!

The season has started.....

The Christmas party was a success with 14 friends and a whole lot of yummy food! We played a fun, interactive game and had a blast with regifting presents! I love regifting! We got a sweet gift out of the deal! Thanks Jacquie and Joe!

Then came Saturday and it was time to bake up a storm with my sister and mom! It was our annual Christmas baking day! We spent about 3-4 hours baking 3 different recipes! Mmmm....holiday cookies, million dollar shortbread and magic french fudge!!!! So good!

Steph and I had just bought long underwear at Walmart that morning, so we spent the baking day in our long underwear. And we have pictures to prove it....that I won't be posting! Very nasty looking! It was a fun day with my favorite ladies!

Then off to the Guse's farm for a Sanctuary shindig! How I like those! We had the usual potluck (always yummy), went skating, enjoyed the hot tub and talked with one another. I love my Sanctuary family!

So, it has been a nice Christmas-filled weekend! I even got my Christmas greeting cards done! Ahhh...it's been good!

And now we have another day filled with worship and prayer at Sanctuary! I have the pleasure of leading the 4:30pm set and singing with some great people! It is like the good, old times of 6 months ago....Johan, Steph, Christina and I! It should be fun! How I love sundays! Get me to the prayer room!

Christmas festivities begin!!!

I worked a 12 hour night. I did an hour recertification for CPR. Now I need to sleep, as it is later than I usually get to bed!

Then I must be up, at an earlier hour than usual, to tidy my house, bake some goodies and get ready for our Christmas party! Friends and food! Sounds like a great plan to me!

Our tree went up on Wednesday to prepare for the Christmas party! Today starts the festivities of the month! It should be fun!

And I like the snow!

Rough day around here....

It has been a rough day.
Shane is having a bad brain day. Those suck.

I love the snow, but I don't like driving in it. And I don't like almost being late and talking to cranky receptionists.

And I'm still in the process of working out the Worker's Comp wrist thing. They want to close my claim, but I don't want to. I don't want to because it doesn't feel like it is fixed. Two weeks ago I had another 3 day work weekend and it flared up again, like it did in August. Physio hasn't seemed to help.

So, I'm going to see a sports medicine doctor, which I offered to a month or two ago. It is pretty much my only step left. I hope they can tell me if it is all muscle/tendon/ligament issues or if there is a ganglion involved.

My worst case scenario is if it just doesn't get better and they can't tell me much of anything. One possibility is if it is a ganglion, exacerbated with my type of work, that it could require surgery. That would kinda suck because it means a 2 week recovery where I am off work and can't use my wrist. And surgery in general would suck and makes me a little nervous. On the other hand, if a day surgery and a 2 week recovery would fix the problem once and for all, I'm into that.

So, overall, I should just get healed and then I don't have to worry about all the possibilities. I'll take whatever means the pain never comes around these wrists again!

Praise report....

Shane and I switched benefit providers this last September, since his benefits from the University ran out in August, meaning that we had to go with St.Boniface's benefit program.

We haven't thought much of the change in the last few months (other than I am disappointed that I don't get anymore free massages=( ).

The other week, we went in to the pharmacy to get Shane's prescription filled. He is on a specific medication to prevent further seizures. So, naturally, it is an important prescription to fill....we can't really just not fill it.

Our lovely pharmacist, Darren, whom we cheerily wave at and chat with when we go to Sobey's had to let us know that our new benefit provider wasn't covering this specific prescription. This increased the stress load for the last two weeks when we thought of the pills, as they are super expensive! We prayed that the Lord would give us favor with Blue Cross and that they would change their minds and cover these drugs.

So, in the last week, we've put off filling the prescription. Shane was down to 2 pills and had cut his dose in the last few days in order to make the pills last longer. We know that our neurologist would cringe if he knew this...but what are you going to do?

This specific prescription is around $140 for 30 days worth of pills. Up to now, we've been paying only 20%, which still adds up over the year, but not nearly as bad as paying the full 100%! We knew that there is just no way we would be able to cover an additional $100+ every month.

This week we got the call from Darren. Blue Cross has decided to cover 80% of this prescription now!!!! Yippeee!!! We were feeling pretty desperate and not knowing what to do if we had to cover it ourselves!

Thank-you Lord for providing for us! This time He used Blue Cross, who knows what He'll use next time! Cheers to answers to prayers and praise reports!

It sure has been a while.....

...since I delivered a baby! Which I did tonight!

It has been a full work day both today and yesterday. I had 4 deliveries on my two shifts combined, the last one this evening being delivered by moi!

I think the last time I did a delivery was about a year ago, when I was a fresh new grad nurse. Since then I delivered a head, and then let the doc do the rest when she arrived.

So my running total is 3 complete deliveries and a half (a head)! I have a pretty good record of getting the doctor there in time! I always try my best to, because I like someone else being ultimately responsible!

It had its scary moments tonight, but was quite a rush all at the same time! How I enjoy that pumping adrenalin!

I sure am looking forward to crashing in my bed! Adios!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY, CADEN!!!!!

Today is my little foster brother's third birthday. It is amazing that he has been a part of our family for almost 3 years already! My mom picked him up from the hospital almost 3 years ago!

We are enjoying him more and more as he grows up. He is such a cute kid! I love that he is becoming so excitable and verbal! It makes playing with him so much more fun!

So, I've been excited about today! Shane and I are surprising Caden by picking him up early from daycare. We are going for a snack, just the 3 of us, at McDonald's! Then we are heading back to mom's for a big birthday party! Steph, Shane and I all went in on a gift and think he's going to love the Bob the Builder tools and Percy from the Thomas the Train set. I can't wait to see his reaction!

So, off we go! Should be a very fun day!

Remembrance Day!

It is Remembrance Day today and I must also say Happy Birthday to my friend Bonnie!

...I'm working all day today....but I sure don't mind the time and a half part of it! Right on!

Have a good one!

Back to the working world....

How I love my stretches of 6 off!

Shane and I had a really nice afternoon/evening with friends of ours yesterday. We drove out to their house and spent the day talking, eating and playing games together. I must say the girls whooped the boys at Cranium! And boy were those good ribs...=)

It is so refreshing to get out and see good, old friends. With the busyness of life and the intense focus of our lives with Sanctuary, sometimes that portion of life is put on the back burner a little. There are so many more needs and requests that I realize I can be praying for when we get together with all of our different friends.

And I realize how incredibly blessed I am. Blessed to have a heart that is fascinated by what I'm learning about my Jesus. Blessed that I'm being challenged in my spiritual life. Blessed that I have a fabulous community surrounding me and cheering me on! Blessed, blessed, blessed!

I love you guys!

Ahhhh....I love my life!

How blessed am I?

A beautiful walk in the snow with my husband.
A wonderful massage from my husband (that definitely speaks love to me!).

To finish the evening off with the combination of:
A warm bath (for about 75 minutes!)
A cup of eggnog (NOT the light stuff either!)
The carols of Michael Buble's Christmas songs
A candle burning and.....
A good End Times book!

Boy do I feel like a pampered woman!

Ahhh....must I say it again! I love my life!

Ahhhhh.....sleep......

I sure am tired these last few nights....probably has something to do with coming off nights on friday morning.

Another good day of prayer and worship. Ahhh...that feels good too! And God did speak and the time together was actually pretty great, though no angelic visitation or audible voice of the Lord. Shucks. Oh well, maybe at tomorrow's set!

Good night!

4 more days to go!

Sanctuary is presently on a corporate 10 day fast. And there are 4 more days to go!

Fasting is a pretty bizarre thing really. Your cravings hate it, but somehow it feels good at the same time. I think it must be my heart and spirit that thrive when my physical body is fasting. It seems to get easier with more practice! There is definite grace upon a life of fasting. I can feel it.

I pray that God would give us a kiss of revelation as we meet together today. I pray that we would encounter the Living God, for nothing is impossible with God! I'm excited for what He may give us tonight! Jesus, please break in today and give us what you have in store for us! We want more than we presently have!

Smiles and frowns in our place......

Smiles, yes, as I have a very happy husband who now has a beautiful Mac that he has been eagerly awaiting! I must say she is a beauty! I think it will be nice to use! And it has been fun to watch Shane, as he has been like a child on Christmas morning!

Frowns for me, because I'm back to work for 2 nights and it seems as though I'm dragging my butt to work again this week. I need a happy heart. I'm just so content to not work right now that I find it tough going in the last 2 weeks. I sure hope this passes!

In general, Sanctuary is in the midst of a corporate 10 day fast. I'm excited for what will happen this week and beyond, as a result of our fasting and prayers! Reveal your secrets to us Lord and open our eyes and ears to hear from You!

Back to the hospital.....

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time off this month! In the last 20 days, I've worked 2 of them! That is so awesome! I enjoy my job, but I love my life apart from work even more! The time at home, with friends and family and at Sanctuary is my priority!

So, tonight I'm back on for the next 3 nights. I think it will be nice to be back in work mode again! I really do enjoy the role when I'm there! I'm just sad that I have to miss a big Sanctuary gathering at the Guses's on saturday =( Always a highlight!

Our belated birthday date last night was lots of fun! We went to see Barnyard at the cheap theatres first. Shane wasn't too impressed with the movie, but I really liked it! It was a pretty empty theatre at 4:55pm and the giggles from the children in the room made the movie even more enjoyable! Then we went to vote.

After voting, we headed over to check out Best Buy briefly and then off to Olive Garden for yummy food! Mmmmm.....so good! And I always try to stuff myself with the salad and breadsticks so that I can have the majority of my meal the next day for lunch! I'm such a mennonite somedays!

So, you'd think my birthday celebrations were long over but this year is a little longer than usual. I have one more coming....a supper with my dad, at the beginning of November! We share a birthday and haven't been able to have supper together to celebrate yet!

Adios amigos!

A Happy Birthday to me?????? Again?????

Today is the day that Shane and I are going to celebrate my birthday. It seems very belated, as it was 13 days ago! We never did get a little celebration by ourselves because we had a big group dinner at a very yummy Italian restaurant in Kansas City during our trip down. It was so good and the company made the day special! Shane and I did fit in a coffee date at Higher Grounds that day, though! So, tonight we are going to have a birthday supper with some birthday money and gift certificates from the Farrow family. Thanks for supplying this date, guys!

.......feeling a sheepish.....

Off on holidays for 12 days, back for 2 shifts at work, go home early today!, and now off for 6 more days! Feeling a little sheepish for leaving early, but there is definitely a baby lull in October...at least this week! I think I'll eventually plan on an October baby, since I love this month, and there might be a good chance at getting a bed!

Now, a friday evening without work! What will I do?

The latest.....in a brief synopsis.....

-We bought a van!!!! Can you believe it, a van owner at 23 with no children!
-We went to a conference in Kansas City and enjoyed ourselves (gone for ~5 days)
-I had a birthday last thursday and turned 24!
-I've had 12 days off work and really enjoyed the holiday....actually wanting it to continue!
-God is working on my heart, schedule and life....always a good thing!

That's it for now! Off I go!

Life is but a vapor......

Last night's shift was full of stark contrasts.

I had one beautiful delivery. No IV, minimal analgesia, very good fetal heart rate, very pleasant couple, beautiful term baby born at 39 weeks.

Then I had my first stillbirth. A very small baby born at 23 weeks. Also beautiful, with perfect little hands and feet. Just a very sad situation in contrast to the usual happy, health infant.

It really does show how fragile life is. It can be there one moment and then be gone the next. And there doesn't always seem to be answers to why.

I pray this morning that Jesus would be near to all these new parents, especially the ones dealing with loss right now.

Still awaiting.....

The search and prayer for a new car is still on in our home. We are getting closer to knowing what we would like, but the biggest hang-up is the finances (naturally). So, please keep praying for wisdom, guidance and provision for our needs!

We settled with MPI today for our Alero. We are satisfied with the amount that they offerred. The check will be in the mail headed our way, by tomorrow. I'm relieved that that part is complete.

Steph has been an incredible blessing and has lent us her computer for the most part since ours died. It has been so helpful! And hopefully in not too long, we'll have one of our own again.

Regardless of the car issue, the plan is still to head to the conference in Kansas City next week. I'm very glad that our trip wasn't cancelled due to our lack of car. I'm looking forward to our time receiving in Kansas City!

I'm off to another night shift! After these two night shifts, I'm off on holidays for 12 days which include the celebration of Thanksgiving, my 24th birthday and a trip to KC! I think it will be a nice one!

Expanding the knowledge....

Today is another classroom day at work. More expanding of my brain capacity. That is good once in a while!

Today is part of my ongoing orientation to the gynecology and antepartum unit, which started in the spring. I still don't go there to work, because I didn't get enough orientation days to feel competent yet! Soon I will though, since the other wards I go to might be able to spare me as the rush of summer hopefully will soon start to slow down! I look forward to my lovely friend, Christina being on that ward! Then I can ask her the surgical/medical questions that she's bound to know that is a foreign world to this maternal/child nurse!

Then this evening is dubbed "car shopping" evening. Pray that we either get an idea of what we'd like or find the car already! Would the Lord lead and guide us to the right car for us!

Later!

Ahhhhhh.....regular life.

Today was a break in the week. Sunday through Tuesday is fulltime Sanctuary stuff. Thursday through Friday (or Sunday, depending) is always working time. So Wednesday and the odd Thursday or Saturday is regular life time (and some evenings). The time when appointments, coffee, extended family get-togethers, banking, etc takes place for me.

Today was a nice day. Some of these regular life days are a little stressful. Because I just want to stay at home and have some quiet time. Other days have a few too many things in one.

But today was quite enjoyable. A little sleep-in, a pancake breakfast, shaving my legs (I know some of you readers don't want to know that detail), two appointments, the bank, Bible time and a great coffee with a girlfriend!

To top of the day, Shane and I went to visit our friends, Doug and Christal and their new little addition, Keegan! He's cute! And we love bringing new outfits for new babies! One of the nice parts of the trip was that Shane brought along the cds from our wedding. Well, they were the cds that were supposed to be the music for the dance that we were supposed to have. It ended up being cancelled because the misquitos were just brutal that year. So, one day we'll have to pull out those cds and have a dance party in lieu of the one we didn't get to have at our wedding!

It was special though to listen to them together in the car this evening! It was a nice walk down memory lane!

Christina, when you are back in the country, I think Steph, you and myself need to bring out some Avril for old times' sake and have a little dance party!

Goodnight folks. Night shifts start tomorrow and I got to get some sleep on board!

Ode to my beautiful car.....oh how I loved thee......

My beautiful Alero is no more. Stolen this morning and likely written off. Well, not officially yet (per MPI), but according to the pictures on my hubbie's blog (Shane), you will likely agree that it is pretty much toast. This is the news I received, per the voice mail from the police, as I was walking out the door to go to work.

I've been a little sad for my car today. It was my first day back in the transit seat again. One I had hoped not to discover ever again. I walked and bused places where I fondly remember driving and parking. As I bused home after work, passing 7-11, I sadly thought back to last night and stared at the parking stall that I had driven into and parked while easily getting a slurpee.

We had some good memories in our beautiful Alero. She never did yet get a name. I'm not really into naming my car. We bought her together, while we were still dating, not even engaged. We drove home after our engagement, in her. We drove around on our wedding day in her. We took a few nice trips to KC with her. She was good to us. I even pictured her having car seats for the babies one day.

But, not all is lost. My heroic husband saved Cheeks and his race car bling.



Cheeks is our baboon that had the domain of the car. Shane bought him for me while we were still dating. Shane would tenderly call me "baboon" and therefore had a habit of buying me small gifts that had to do with monkeys. Cheeks was like a child to us. And those steelers ripped his tag off his ear.

So, today is a sad day in this household. I'm glad that no lives were lost, not even Cheeks'. And really, though I feel more than just this lightheartedness, in the end, it is just a car. Not worth eternal value.

Ahhhhh......

It is great what going to bed at 9:30pm can do for you! I had a wicked headache after work last night and my hubbie was out so I put myself to bed nice and early. I slept the moment my head hit the pillow and didn't stir for anything until my alarm went this morning at 6am.

The head is feeling much better! One more day of work to go before I get a few off! 7:45pm, here we come!

Do you ever wake up totally in love?

I sure did this morning. Something in my dreams made me realize (even though I already know it) that I have the greatest guy! In my dream, I realized that Shane was the perfect match for me. That it wasn't just convenient or the way it worked out but that he was really the best match for me.

I woke up so relieved that I had picked him! And feeling so grateful for my husband and my marriage. It was around 6:30am...so I didn't want to wake him up to tell him how much I love him. So, I leaned over to make sure he was still beside me sleeping, kissed his arm and gave him a hug. I just couldn't help myself!

I have the apartment to myself on wednesday mornings as Shane is out with Brian. I have been having some prayer and worship time. In the midst of it all, I just had to look through my wedding pictures. Ahhhhh.....what a beautiful day that was. I feel pretty emotionally sappy this morning! Now, I can get back to my Bible reading! Hosea, here I come!

I guess that is what happens when you wake up in love!

Yeah!

A little miracle for me! I got off work 2 hours early! With the total blessing of the supervisor of the hospital! I don't know how that actually happened!

Thank-you Lord! Now I get a little extra sleep before the wedding!

Just a note.....

It is confirmed. Shane and I are going to Kansas City in October (actually over my birthday) to attend the OneThing Leadership Conference. As of today, our registration is officially confirmed and our place to stay is confirmed as well! Looks like we get another Kansas City trip on the horizon!

I went to physio today for my wrist. I did end up going to the doctor's this week, putting in a worker's comp claim and starting physio. The guy said that my muscles in my inner forearm are quite tight and if it wasn't addressed my wrist would be totally screwed in the next 10 years of my career, if it continues. So, I will do the stretches, ice and heat the sucker and do whatever else they advise. And I will keep on praying for physical healing! Because that will be the big thing in getting this wrist fixed! My wrist had a really good day today!

I'm back in the work mode as of tomorrow night. It will be a busy weekend with 3 twelve hour shifts and a family wedding on sunday. I'm crossing my fingers that saturday to sunday night is slow so that I can head home at 3:30am instead of 7:30am, and get a few more hours of sleep in before the festivities begin! I find it pretty doubtful, but that is my hope, which I already mentioned to my boss!

I'm off to bed!

Could you pray?

I need to go to work today. I have a very sore wrist since monday. It is difficult to wash my hair and dry myself after my shower. My wrist is being very particular on which movements hurt and I have woken up the last few mornings in pain. It is the first good morning I receive.

But I do need to work today and I don't want a sore wrist to hinder that. Could you pray?

HAPPY 26TH BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE GUY!!!!!!!

Shaner, happy birthday! Enjoy the day! I pray that you would have the best year yet! Love you!

Some thoughts, as I process.......

I've been in a bit of a processing mode in the past few weeks. Not the most comfortable place to be. But probably a good one to be in, when I'll look back later on!

A bunch of what I'm thinking about started when I was down in Kansas City with Steph and we had a few coffees with some of the ladies/moms down there. We wanted to know how it works for families and marriages of those involved in a house of prayer, whether part-time or full-time....mostly with the questions of this as a full-time way of life.

The ladies we talked to had good insight to share with us. I was especially interested in the family aspect, as that is naturally the next step since I've already done the marriage one!

So, since this processing started, I seem to be getting in deeper and deeper. I know that there must be a way that our ever-growing, fascinating lives in God can be a part of every stage of our lives.

A wise woman once told me that she keeps in mind what is of eternal value at the end of the day. That though she is a wife and mother here and now, that when she stands before the Lord on that day, she will not be evaluated and viewed as a wife or a mother. She will be herself and will give account of her own heart and life. Her husband won't be there to vouch for her and her children won't be there to say their opinion. In the end, what matters is how she prepared and cultivated her heart with the Lord throughout her life.

So, God desires my best and my fullest amount of love and time in each and every season of my life. Whether I am young and single, a student, married, a mother, an employee, He wants me wholeheartedly His. He understands the differences that the seasons may look like on the outside, but that doesn't give me an excuse for taking a few years off from cultivating my heart and secret life in Him. I assume it gets trickier in certain seasons that demand more of your time and energy, but I don't want to use these things as excuses.

If I want God badly enough, I'll do something about it, right? If I want to know Him and encounter Him, I'll make the time to read His Word, pray, talk to Him, study, discuss Him with others that are like-minded, etc. I cannot use the excuses that are so prevalent. I cannot have the mindset, that if I work a lot, God must sit back and wait. I cannot live with the idea that having children will take all of my attention and energy and God will have to wait until my kids have moved out of the house before He is my number one again.

I want to go for a life that places Jesus at the first and foremost of my priorities. I don't want things, even good things, to get in the way of that. Especially those of temporal value that don't have any input into my eternal riches.

I keep thinking that pursuing God fully is a tricky way of life. I've heard many people, especially busy moms, full-time employees, and busy students talk about the difficulty of balancing everything. The thought that keeps coming back to me is that God wants each believer to be fully and totally for Him. That includes every season and every person, whatever state or role they are in.

So, I come back to the question for myself, if I want God badly enough, I'll do something about it, right?

A rainy saturday.....

Ahhh...I don't mind the rain.
And it is nice to have a saturday without work!

The day is pretty open for us, which is kinda nice on a saturday! We are planning on seeing my dad later on today when he comes into the city. Otherwise the day is mine for the taking. Perhaps I will visit the Y to do some exercising. Perhaps I will drop by at my sister's to visit my sister and mother. Perhaps, no for sure, I will play some guitar to get ready for my set tomorrow! Yikes, some of us newbies have to step up to the challenge again of leading a set, as some of our worship leaders are gone this sunday. It's all good!

So, I will have a bite to eat and face the day! Thanks Jesus for a new day ahead of me!

Day #1 of our new life!

Today, August 7th, marks another step in the presently forming history of Sanctuary House of Prayer! The first day of our first internship! This morning, bright and early compared to my usual day-off wake-up time, we met at Steph's to begin our time learning, worshiping, and praying together! Steph led us in some worship, and then we launched into the teaching series we are presently studying. To top it off, we had some good breakfast food courtesy of Steph and Joel, to nibble on while our hearts and minds were growing!

This new schedule definitely changes the pace around our home. Shane and I have gotten used to doing our routine at home with the Bible, worship, prayer and study times. It means for a lot of time at home in the beginning part of the week and then I work the later part of every week.

Now, we will be gathering together with some other we really like to learn together about things of Jesus. I'm so excited to learn more, study more and love Jesus more! I love my time at home but I also think I'm going to enjoy the teaching aspect of what we will be learning!

Yippee!!!! This is a big step for Sanctuary! Likely bigger than we know because it doesn't seem all that significant that 4-6 people want to meet more often to learn, pray, worship, etc! But it is a significant move, I'm sure!

So, Lord, expand our hearts, minds and spirits to know You more. Teach us more and more about Yourself! We want to know you more!!!

Just plain mad.

Yes, I'm mad.

I'm totally ticked off that people in power don't make decisions on behalf of the workers under them. I'm ticked that when staff is overworked and the whole floor is understaffed, that the management isn't dragging their butts in to work at 2 in the morning to help and make things manageable.

I'm mad that the more overworked I am, the less I enjoy my job. I'm mad that I feel like I can't always provide good or safe care. I'm mad that this insanity is becoming normal.

I don't like missing my break all the time. I don't like dealing with staffing issues all the time. I don't like being asked to stay overtime after every shift. I don't like the level of stress that is felt amongst everyone. I don't like giving the explanation to every patient that we can't help because we don't have enough staff.

Yesterday night I asked anesthesia in a joking, but honest, way if he could stay and work with us tonight! I said that him going around doing everybody's vital signs would be wonderful help! Well, he didn't buy that. He said he only does epidurals. So, our next thought was that maybe everyone, moms and babes included, should all get epidurals to get us to morning.

#1 Note to self: don't have a baby in the summer months.

#2 Note to self: what really matters at the end of the shift is that everyone under our care is alive....even if we couldn't do much more than that. (how sucky is that?!)

feeling busy with my relationships....

The last day or so has felt so busy with coffees/suppers/etc. We went for lunch with some of Shane's family yesterday. Then I saw my friend Amy and her little guy Jude yesterday afternoon at her place. Then hopped over to my mom's for supper and a little visit. While I was there I got a call from a friend who had driven in to Winnipeg and wanted to have coffee (which I don't know if we've ever done). So, I left mom's at a decent time to drive back to the city to have coffee with Erica and her beautiful 2 month old Katie. It was such a treat to snuggle with a newborn for 1 and a half hours while enjoying a drink, an outing and a friend!

That is a lot of relationships all in one day! It seems like a crazy schedule balancing act. My schedule is greatly consumed with work and Sanctuary. It is often tough to fit in all the relational sides of things with family and friends. I'm alright with this, because it is what I've committed my life to.....I just kinda feel bad sometimes that I don't have a ton of availability to offer those I like and love. And then when I do have some time, there are sometimes too many people fit into one day. Then I run out of time in the day to do some of the things that I really wanted to do to enlarge my heart and spirit with the Lord.

This life is quite the balancing act sometimes. It is like a tug-of-war some days!

I totally love my friends, my family and going for coffee! And I totally like having time in my day for more than just relating with other people!

So, I will go now and drop off some stuff at my sister's new place (boo hoo...she's left us as of yesterday night!) and have coffee with a friend that I totally love and want to catch up with! After my time with Christina, I may have time to see my hubbie and/or have some God time before I have to sleep and get ready for the night shift!

Yep, feeling a little busy! Thank goodness for teaching and worship cds to drive in the car with! So I can still motivate my mind and heart while I travel to the next stop!

loving the usual....

It's great to be home again and with my husband!

Today was a great, but full day. I woke up at a decent hour to start the day off with some good bible, prayer, worship/guitar and study time! I love this part of my life!

Then it was off to Starbuck's for a tuesday coffee time! I love frappacinos! Then for some grocery shopping (10% tuesday) and cleaning of the house. It really is too bad that our fast day is on the cheapest grocery shopping day. I always miss out on the tasters! And I'm a mennonite by family history, so I'm all about free food!

Today was a day in history. Well, silly history. Today was my second or third time (the amount of which I can count on one hand) that I have cleaned the bathroom since we got married over two years ago! My hubbie was feeling kinda crappy so I took it for the team and cleaned the bathroom myself. Not that I mind that kind of cleaning. It just was the agreement we reached when we got married. I sweep, vacuum, and wash dishes. Shane cleans the bathroom (very thoroughly) and dries the dishes. We both make the bed, take the garbage and recycling out and do laundry. It really works pretty good for us as a team! I thought I might have forgotten how to clean a toilet, but it all came back to me like riding a bike.

Then to finish the day off well, we had a great prayer time! Tuesday night is a special prayer night. We have been going since March 2005, and have a consistent 4-5 people. Many tough prayer nights have happened since we started. Today was a blessing of easy prayer. We went for a solid hour and a half and it was enjoyable and easy! As all of you must know, prayer isn't always the easiest thing to do over a period of time. Today was fun! Way to go Johan for preparing, playing for all that time and cycling the harp and bowl model to a T! Yeah Joel for joining us, singing along to lift those choruses and praying like a passionate maniac! We got to get you praying more often! Woo hoo Steph for being a faithful prophetic singer in the harshness of my living room....and a prayer person too! That's right, we have many different roles in the period of one meeting. Yeah Shaner for being there to pray and contribute even when feeling crappy! You guys rock and I love doing this prayer life with you!

Good night all!

WE'RE BACK!!!!!

Steph and I enjoyed our time in Kansas City this past week! Lots of time in the prayer room, good food at Panera and Chipotle's, time with the girls (Steph and Joyska), doing some HOPE city stuff, some meetings with some IHOP ladies, and a little sister time too!

We woke up at 3am yesterday and drove the 14 hours to make it back for Sanctuary! Yikes! But the ride actually didn't seem that long at all! Steph is a trooper to drive along with! It was sooo helpful to have another driver! When Shane and I went in December, I drove both ways all by myself! Good bragging rights, but not something I'd jump into doing again if I can prevent it!

We made it back in time to shower all the grease off, pick up slurpees and be at Sanctuary in time to hear my wonderful, firey husband speak! He is a fireball, that one. One of the many reasons I married him!

I am totally pleased to be home. I haven't quite felt the appreciation for Winnipeg before as much as I do after this past trip to Kansas City. It is the first trip I've returned from, to return to my own house of prayer. It was the first KC trip that didn't give me the aching longing to do what they are doing down there, or move there. WE'RE DOING IT UP HERE!!!

I was so thankful to see my fellow SHOPers. We have an incredible family that we are building. I felt more ease praying when I walked in the door at Sanctuary, then the week at IHOP. I really cherish this time when we are small and intimate. We all have to own it with everything to make it work!

And so, thank-you Joyska for opening your home! Thank-you Shane for blessing me with the pleasure of a second sister trip in the past 7 months! Thank-you Jesus for what you spoke to me and confirmed in me this week.

I love my home. I love my part in Sanctuary. I'm called here.

HERE WE GO!!! KANSAS CITY, HERE WE COME!

We leave in the next few minutes! Feeling pretty tired from my work weekend, but excited for the week ahead! I'm already missing my Shaner as our time together has been limited lately. I'll go receive for the both of us! Kansas City is always the place that we hear big heart things! So I'll go on behalf of us both!

See you next week!

YIPPEEEEEE!!!!!!

One last day of work and I'm off to Kansas City!

Steph, Joyska and I leave for KC early tomorrow morning! I'm so excited for our time out there! I am going to spend the week, soaking up the prayer room, reading and studying like I've been wanting to and having some good girl and sister time! We are going to have a blast!

So, on that note, off to work, excited about tomorrow morning!

Turning? Judgements? All for love.....

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of God asking me to turn with my whole heart towards Him. For those of you who wonder what in the world "turning" means, I'm taking it straight from Joel 2:12.

"Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning..."

So, a recent experience, has left me asking the question in a more persistent way. "Jesus, what does it mean for me to turn to you with my whole heart and life?" I know that over the years of my relationship with Jesus, I've turned more and more, especially in the last few. But I know that I still have lots of turning to do, that my face would be directly looking at Him.

With those wrestles in mind, I've also been finishing up the book, End-Times Simplified by David Sliker. Here is a little exerpt that kinda has a connection in my mind with what I've been processing.

"God will shake every dimension of our earthly existence with His judgements. His hope and desire is for all people to turn to the "Desire of the Nations" (Hag 2:7). In that hour He will "speak from heaven" (Heb 12:25) and we must not refuse Him. He wants to shake all that can be shaken in order to remove from us anything that might hinder our love for Him. He wants to purify us. We must be unshakeable in order to receive His Kingdom, a "kingdom that cannot be shaken" (Heb 12:27). God is a consuming fire (v29) who will move jealously to purify believers in that hour (Dan 11:35; 12:10). The saints will be refined and made white, spotless in His sight and fit to rule with Him (Eph 5:26-27). God will sanctify and cleanse His bride with the water of the Word, "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church" (Eph 5:27)."

So, I feel the invitation to turn very strongly. I've been asking for clarification about what that might look like, as I have no idea. I don't want to look at my heart or lifestyle with an eye of religiosity or condemnation, looking to change something that is rooted in those evils. But, I want to be soft and sensitive to hearing God's voice and feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit. That when He talks, I would response with my whole heart and life. That I would turn anything that He pinpoints.

And so I continue in the search to access the heart and mind of my Jesus and know what is on His heart about me. I want to know what His idea of turning looks like for me specifically....

Monday?

As many of you prepare for the weekend, in my world, let the week begin! Off to work I go, after having the last 7 days off! It has been SO nice!

Monday is another classroom orientation day.....Will the learning ever slow down??? I'm soon going to be on overload! 6 classroom days within a month is a little much for me!

But, for the next 3 days I'm on the ward. I'm feeling slightly nervous as I haven't been on the floor for two weeks because of the classroom days. I'm sure it will all come back to me as I step onto the floor! It will be nice to be working instead of learning...strange to say. So, here's to a good work weekend!

I love my life!

I have a girls day each month in which a bunch of us girlfriends try out a new restaurant for a meal or a dessert and chat for the evening. This started in July of 2004, the month after we got married! And we still haven't gone to the same restaurant twice! The exception being our Christmas get-together at Pine Ridge Hollow! Mmmmmmm!!!!!

So, each month we go around the table and get caught up on the latest news in each life. We take many rabbit trails and spend the evening laughing, ooooing and ahhhhing like girlfriends should.

This last monday was no different, except that the excitement was even higher than usual! We have all been waiting each month for some engagement news from one of the girls. Well, as Christina, Steph and I were walking towards the restaurant, we saw something blinding us from her left ring finger! Sure enough, it was the engagement news we were hoping and waiting for! My friend Shauna is getting married!

Then we also had the excitement of seeing another friend, Ruth, who was married recently and whom we haven't seen since the wedding. She brought wedding pictures!

So the marriage, engagement, boys and life stories were wonderful! Always lots of excitement and laughs! It is these nights that I remember why I love being a female so much! The longer we have girls day, the more I seem to enjoy them and see how important they are in my life! You just have to get out with the girls sometimes! It is a priority!

So, that brings me back to my title of this blog - I love my life! It was my turn to talk about what is happening in my life. Well, no new marriage (thank goodness!), no recent engagement, no baby on the way (naturally the next big question people generally have), no stories of saying no to pursuers, and no recent trips I've taken. But, I love my life. I love my marriage, I love our vision, I love our involvement in Sanctuary, I love my job when I'm there, I love the amount of time that I'm not there, I love my family, I love my time at home......

The list goes on. This season in our lives is so special. One day, it won't look the same, and so I'm going to treasure it to the fullest. What normal people get to spend 20+ days of the month not working, and spend most weekdays praying, reading the Word and studying WITH their spouse at home????? I am so blessed.

One day Sanctuary will have a building and my prayer husband won't be home nearly so much, and neither will I. I treasure his company in our appartment, even if we are doing different things throughout the day.

These season is so sweet, yet filled with real struggles. Somehow, when I look at the big picture, those mountains do become mole hills in light of the joys and blessings!

I must say it again, I love my life!

Today is Father's Day???

Funny that today is technically Father's Day, as Shane and I spent the last 2 days celebrating it! Friday, as I mentioned, we spent the evening at my dad's. Then yesterday, after a family bridal shower, Shane and I, Shane's sister Tina and some of her family and my mom-in-law and dad-in-law all had a barbeque together and watched the game. I'm generally not much of a game kind of person, but it was a nice time!

So, it feels like Father's Day has passed for me and today is a day for me. Shane left early this morning to golf with his dad and brother.

I have had such a nice morning so far! I couldn't sleep well throughout the night and therefore got up earlier than I generally do on a weekend when I choose to sleep in! I was up by 9am (to many that would be sleeping in!). The morning started with a good time emailing a friend of mine. It felt like Godly advice and scripture were just a flowin'. I'm definitely not tooting my own horn here, but you know when you get on a roll that feels right and it's definitely not because of your own abilities? That's always enjoyable!

Then, I spent an hour and a half on my guitar! My fingers are feelings the effects as I type now. It was a really nice time with my Jesus! I sure hope that all the practice is paying off as well!

I just got back from the Y where I worked my little tushy...well, not off, unfortunately! Actually, it's more the tummy I want to work off more than anything..... I generally find it pretty hard to motivate myself to go to the gym. Though, the consequences are wonderful for me! I think I have hormones that are extra sensitive to exercise. It changes my internal feelings and mood after I get some deliberate exercise. It could have something to do with the sermons I'm listening to as I'm on the eliptical!

Well, a bath is in order now, a yummy late lunch at my sister's and then a day full of prayer and worship at Sanctuary! What a great sunday!....have I mentioned that I love sundays?!

Happy Father's Day!!!

I guess many of you are thinking, what? It is not father's day today! It's on sunday!

Well, today is father's day to our family. We are heading out this afternoon/evening to go for a barbeque at my dad's for the occasion. Everybody is bringing a little something to make into a yummy BBQ meal!

This means we get another great evening in the country!!! Yippee! I think I may want a bonfire!

Being committed to Sanctuary at this time has meant some adjustments for our time spent with my extended family and the way that Shane and I make decisions related to sundays especially. Sundays are the biggest involvement day with Sanctuary. We have sets from 3:30pm - 9:30pm, and we have use of a building that day of the week.

Shane and I feel very committed to SHOP in this time and want to sow energy and time into it.

This means that while we have such high involvement specifically on a sundy, which won't always be the case when we have a building and more worship and prayer times together, we needed to decide a few things.

Naturally, almost all extended family gatherings are on sundays....and usually in the evening or late afternoon. At this time in our lives, we have decided to commit sunday afternoon and evenings to SHOP and therefore have had to miss quite a lot of extended family gatherings.

It can be a hard tension between doing what you feel called to at this time and giving it your total commitment, and the physical/relational/family side of things. I've prayed about this topic and asked for wisdom on it.

My number one goal in life is to walk out that which I feel called to do, specifically related to loving the Lord first and foremost. And that means even above my family and friends. It doesn't mean I am totally excited each sunday for every hour of prayer. But it means that I need to give myself to what Jesus has lead me to.

And for now that includes missing out on the family gatherings if they are on sundays. What we have done in return is really attempted to invest in my immediate family get-togethers (like with my mom and dad).

I understand the wrestle that some of you may be going through with involvement or the family tension side of things when you give yourself to something that takes time and energy away from get-togethers. I encourage you to pray into this area. See what God is telling you. Continue to love your families regardless of the amount of time you spend with them. (I'm talking extended family here)

"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life". Matthew 19:29

Finishing up a little learning......

For the past 3 days, and today as well, I have been doing some orientation classes for the new ward that I'm adding to my job description. It has felt like I'm in school all over again! I'm getting a brief overview of so many things I haven't heard of since I graduated. It is a good refresher!

I will be starting on another ward to add to my area of work on the third floor. I presently hop around from L&D, LDRP and postpartum (3A), due to my status as a maternal/child float, spending the majority of my time on L & D. After today and a few buddy shifts on the ward, I will be adding 3B gynecology and antepartum to my mix. I have 2 buddy shifts scheduled for later this month.

I've been pretty nervous about this step in the progression of the areas that I eventually will work in because I'm a float. Originally when I took this float position in October, my boss told me I would be starting on 3B in January and then NICU in spring! That scared me! I think I may have had a little freak out had it been back in January.

But, because I've been preparing myself and knowing that it is coming, I feel a little less nervous. I still have a number one worry of the workload and being able to cope with more patients and different patients than I'm used to. But, I'm SO glad that it is June and not January!

When I look at the bigger picture, this is a good move for me! I am going to be such a better nurse in the longrun (hopefully) if I know some of the skills and organization a ward like 3B will force me to learn! I'm slightly looking forward to learning new skills and such again. Strangely.

So, back for one more day of the medical/surgical orientation. I'm so glad that after 3:30pm, I am off for 7 days!!!! Bring it on!

HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY TO MY HUBBIE!!!

I love you, Shaner! You are my favorite guy (you know, besides Jesus) and I'm tickled to be able to spend my life with you!

I like you more and more all the time. I love sharing a home with you. I love dreaming about the future together. I like thinking of the places that God will take us together (whether that be spiritual, geographical, etc). I like doing the dishes together. I like going for walks, holding your hand. I like late night talks, staring at the ceiling. I love to hear your opinion.

I think you're the greatest! And I'm pumped to celebrate two years of awesome marriage and many more great years to come!

How I love the country....

We spent another evening out at my mom's yesterday. I can't quite describe the feelings I get when I relax for an evening in the country.....

I went out the other night as well when I was craving the presence of my mom and her home in the country. I almost felt a tangible welcome home hug when I entered the area as I was driving. That was a neat feeling!

I love the peace and quiet of the country. I love how green the trees and grass are. I love the space to play on the yard without neighbors too close by. I love my mom's new place. I like the birds and the flowers. I love playing with my foster bro. I love the smell and taste of barbequed meat. I love watching my husband, in his glory, as he plays, walks and enjoys the nature. I know he's in his most content spot when he's outside in the country. I love my siblings and my parents. I love my family a whole bunch!

And then comes the irony.......

Why am I called to a house of prayer over a CITY, when I long to be in the COUNTRY?

Will I ever get to live in the COUNTRY if I'm feeling the calling to a house of prayer that generally resides in a CITY?

At times I've mentioned, more recently, to Shane that perhaps we will never be living in the country. Maybe it is a dream that we will end up giving up for the sake of our callings. I know that God knows the desires of our hearts. I have NO IDEA how this one with turn out. It is full of such opposites!

That's the fun of it, right? So, though I would love to be living in a house right now, we are needing to be living in the city at the present time. And I don't want to buy a house in the city. Nor do we have the funds to think about a house at this time.

So, only God knows if we get a house one day, where it would be!!!!!! (still hoping for the gift of a free one!.....you heard me right!)

And back for another....

I did work another night, Deanna! But instead of my usual 3 in a row, I only had to work the last 2 nights and get tonight off! Yehaw! It is like I get the weekend off, on my weekend to work!

Instead of the insanity of multiple deliveries this past night, I had the insanity of a very busy postpartum night! I had a bunch of stuff from first day c-section moms with IVs and cathetars, twins, baby IV antibiotics, and breastfeeding woes to language barriers! It all makes for a lot of fun, and a lot of exercise down the hallway!

I have been realizing a lot of my weaknesses and struggles lately. I am normally aware of them, but lately I've been heightened in my awareness of how weak and imperfect I really am. One of the areas that has been highlighted is the area of worry/being anxious. I'm aware of the weakness, but think that I generally have it under control. Lately, I think I'm just not as in control as I think I am.

So, the last two nights, like usual, I prayed on my drive to work. I always pray for peace and safety for my patients and I. The last two nights I've uped the prayer part related to peace, specifically the peace that passes all understanding!

And God is listening. I had all those crazy deliveries, and was relatively calm. I had a very busy postpartum night and got everything done, without freaking, and even taped report and charted before shift change! That rarely happens! I walked out of the ward feeling relaxed instead of frazzled, which is often the feeling I have.....

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

A NEW RECORD SET!!!!

I set a new record for myself at work this past night!

4 deliveries in one shift!!!! That is absolutely exhausting! And amazingly I could remember the names of every couple when I tested myself on my ride home this morning. It all starts to blur together!

I feel like I could cut off my legs at the hips to ease the dull aching feeling.....

I had one massive adrenalin rush from the start to the finish of my 12 hour shift. My nerves must be fried! No wonder I found myself praying a lot for peace that passes understanding on my way to work! God knew what I would need!

I managed to not deliver any of the four myself, though 2 of them were delivered by another more senior nurse in the room! Yikes! One was almost delivered by me. One more minute and it would have been in my hands!

I hope that I fall into bed similar to Sleeping Beauty.....with no dreams of babies or deliveries...just solid, restful and peaceful, sleep.....ahhhh....sounds good!

Babies!

For those of you who don't know Johan (link on the sidebar) and therefore won't have wandered to his blog, I'll post the reason for my tired-sounding blog last post.

Our friends, Johan and Corrie, had their first baby, little Eli Johan David on monday! He came into the world, outside of mommy's tummy, at 12:45pm weighing 8lbs. What a sweetie!

I was blessed and honored to be apart of this experience with them, and so was pretty tired by the end of monday! But it was worth every moment of lack of sleep or food!

Those two did wonderful with the whole experience and with supporting one another throughout. Corrie was a total trooper and boy, is that girl tough! She must be strong both physically, emotionally and mentally. She took every twist that the circumstances threw at her, and not once did she lose it or have a meltdown. She rolled with the punches, and did awesome! Corrie, you did great! And Johan was such a good support in both words and actions. He did a great job of serving his wife's needs and loving on her throughout the process. It was wonderful to see!

Ahhh....so good to see the miracle of two wonderful people becoming parents!

So, welcome baby Eli to the world, and to our Sanctuary family! Eli is our first Sanctuary baby! Bless you, Corrie and Johan, as you teach, love and guide this boy in the ways of God!

Sleep. Where far out thou?

Going on 36 hours since the I awoke last morning, with only a 2 hour nap this afternoon. Feeling a little drugged by lack of sleep.

Bet you if someone went out with me tonight, I'd be a hoot! Or a total party-pooper.

Either way, no partying for me tonight. I'm off to bed. Bet you I'll breathe really heavy which with bug my husband, or sleep talk because I'm just way too tired. Either way, should be a fun night. We'll see what conspires. I'll likely be oblivious to any of it!

In the sleep-talking of word of myself a few weeks/months ago, "Nasty, that smells nasty!".

Sundays.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week! I love sundays. If I'm offerred an LOA (leave of absense) from work on a friday evening or even a saturday, I often won't take it. If it is a sunday, regardless if we need the money, I really want to take it!

The new flow of our sundays is really nice. We used to get up early-ish, go to church, do something in the afternoon and then spend the evening back at church. Now, sunday morning is a nice relaxing time together at home. We sleep in and then slowly get moving. Another thing I like about this is the fact that saturday nights are party night! Because we don't have to get up early on sunday morning!

Today, for example, we'll be at the church for 3:30pm....and probably won't leave until 8:30 or 9pm. It is enjoyable! I am singing for one hour of the 5 and am thinking about putting on some dancing clothes (haven't done that in a while!). That first set doesn't have a lot of people so I may have a little room to move. The building that we are using is pretty teeny, but exactly what we need to start out in. We are so thankful for the generosity of King's Fellowship for allowing us to use their building on sunday afternoon/evenings.

I also love the people that are naturally growing together in Sanctuary. It isn't uncommon to go out for a bite together after sunday evening. The fellowship is so important! I'd say so if you are seeing one another up to 3-4 times per week! ....and knowing that it is only going to intensify as we have more times of prayer and worship and a building!

So, if you don't know what I'm talking about with Sanctuary, check us out at www.sanctuaryhop.com or ask some questions! And if you find yourself praying for Sanctuary, include a building in your prayers and the wholehearted pursuit of Jesus for us that are involved!

More to come at some point....

Happy Wedding Day, Ruth and Matt!!!!

Can't wait to party with you this afternoon! Blessings on you two today! Enjoy your special day....and the rest of the years to come!

Fun, fun, fun!

Ahhhhh...the weekend! I'm off this weekend which is nice and we have a bunch of fun things to do! First, before we get the parties started, I need to sleep part of the day away, because I'm just home from the night shift. It was a nice night!

I've been blessed by my patients lately. In the past few shifts I've received 2 cards from previous patients saying thank you for my care at their birth and that I'm a great nurse! My patient from this last night was great too. Her husband said this morning that I was a great nurse, I do my job well and that I was in the right profession and area of nursing. How nice! That is so encouraging!

So, after I sleep, we are off to friends' for supper tonight whom we haven't seen in ages! They are expecting a new addition within the next month, so we wanted to hang out before that kiddo arrives. Then tomorrow is wedding day for a friend of mine from high school. I'm totally looking forward to seeing her get married and enjoying the fun of weddings and receptions! Also, there are a bunch of friends invited to the wedding that I'd love to see! And then comes sunday, my favorite day of the week! We are going to go to WCV in the morning as it is the send-off sunday for Sanctuary House of Prayer. I want to be there for that! And then we do our thang in the evening....at which I get to sing this week! It should be a fun weekend! And I get to do it all with my hubbie! How marvelous!

I'm in such a perky mood, even after the night shift! I think it has helped that I've been able to rest or sleep on both of my last two shifts. That makes me feel so much better come 7:30am!

Good night to some of you....and to the rest, enjoy the day!

HE'S ALIVE!!!!! AND HE'S COMING BACK!!!!!

Due to working all weekend, it sure hasn't felt like a holiday time this weekend. I'm now off tonight and have a moment to think about what we celebrate at Easter time. I love Easter! (And I love white chocolate!) The meaning behind Easter is my favorite holiday, I think I've decided.

I felt a quickening of my heart this morning when I was driving home from work and thinking about what today is all about. My Jesus is alive! It struck me again that he actually walked this very earth as a human being. Then he was crucified and rose from the dead!!!! The greatest thing is that he is alive, not dead, and planning a return!!!

I think sometimes we as people have a mindset that Jesus is still dead, even without thinking it on purpose and even though our theology knows differently. I think we may have this mindset because he is not physically present with us. It is definitely easier to remember that someone is alive when they are standing right in front of you. Well, I look forward to that day!

In the meantime, I am so thankful for the present of the Holy Spirit. Christ is in me, the hope of glory!

It strikes me today as I sit and think, Jesus is alive! I wonder if Jesus' heart quickens a little extra as well on Easter, just thinking that we are celebrating his ressurection as people on earth, and yet he anticipates the next big step of his return to us!

Much better!

Ahhh...now that's more like it! A much better night for me!

One nice patient to be with throughout the night. A beautiful, calm delivery. A healthy baby. I like that a whole lot better! And I even got all my breaks to boot!

I hate the sound of complaining....didn't like the sound of my last post reading back. It sounds yucky when people complain! So, here's to positive nights with nice patients and nice deliveries!

Now, with that in mind, hopefully I won't dream frantically about work all day as I try to sleep!

Some things I want to complain about (re: work related - specifically the night shift):

-when you don't get 2 out of 3 of your breaks....after two rushed deliveries and nothing to eat or drink in 8 hours I feel ready to faint....

-when you can manage to spend your break staring aimlessly at the wall in front of you and think nothing of it, just enjoying the fact that your not moving

-when I'm thrown around as a float to any unit that needs me, and get stuck with the crisis cases

-when I'm working my butt off and others are sitting around - and not helping when I need it

-when I have to bring peace to a situation that I'm not involved with screwing up in the first place!

-when you are driving home like a zombie, and praying that you'll make it home safely

It was a brutal night. I feel like crap. I need to sleep. I'm going cross-eyed. Thanks for listening to my complaining.

Back in the swing of things!

We returned from Kansas City on monday evening...a little later than planned for those of you who aren't from Winnipeg and haven't heard of our adventures yet.

We had an almost accident 2 hours into our drive home on sunday afternoon. There was tons of rain and we lost control of the van. After a crazy few moments and at least three 360s we drove into the ditch. Three of us women and a baby were in the back sleeping and Shane and Jason were in the front, awake of course! That was a rude awakening and there was a lot of commotion for a few minutes with many loud prayers. I realized later that I had had earplugs in the whole time on top of that!

It was a real miracle that no one was hurt, not even the van. I think there were angels holding each side of the van, preventing us from rolling or hitting anything or anyone. Thank-you Jesus for your protection!

We had a great trip though. God always speaks so much to me while I'm visiting IHOP. It is kinda like Christmas. You may receive little gifts here and there throughout the year, like at Mother's Day or your birthday, and then comes Christmas. Now, this analogy isn't true for Shane and I as we didn't even buy presents this last year, but hey, work with me. Christmas rolls around and people are showered with gifts, more than any other time in the year. And you get them from multiple sources, like grandmas, grandpas, etc in a matter of days.

The gifts I receive from Jesus in my trips to IHOP are like this analogy. I'm by no means saying that Kansas City is the only place I receive from God, and I'm not saying that it is the only place that I hear from Jesus. The prayers and worship of those who are there day after day, their work is my benefit by the atmosphere that is produced. Back to the analogy, the outpouring of hearing from Jesus, feeling the Holy Spirit and what I receive from the worship and speaking is like Christmas when I go to IHOP. I hear and feel Jesus in the prayer room. I enjoy soaking in there for hours. I realized when Shane and I stood up to go and see Joyska at her appartment on saturday, that my legs were really sore because I hadn't stood up in 3 hours! I didn't realize I was there that long, or stationary for that long! I receive like crazy in those alter calls and eat up the messages with fascination. I respond and the visitation that I receive is incredible. I'm up there to get prayer, receiving and hearing from Jesus, and thinking "I hope nobody comes over and prays for me...I'm receiving enough already!".

There is so much that I could say about what I heard and received this weekend. I had a pretty incredible experience one night. But I'm keeping some secrets to myself. I realize that I often overshare my experiences and then they feel a little less sacred. So, I'm trying to learn how to keep some intimate secrets with my Savior, my God and the burning lamp within me, the Holy Spirit. The best friends I could ever ask for!

Off we go!!!

Leaving for Kansas City at 1:45am! Lots to do before that time...and I'm already needing a nap!
Off to the Y for a quick aquafit workout with my sister! Then to Walmart to pick up last minute stuff we need. Home then to pack...as I haven't done that yet, and then off to bed for a nap!

Must run! See you next week! Pray for safe and peaceful travels and wonderful God encounters. I'm so looking forward to sitting in the prayer room for hours, seeing Joyska and being in KC again! Yippee!

I feel special!

Most days I still feel so new at work. Then I often focus on the things that could have gone better on my way home.

Today I feel pretty nice. I had a sweet young couple in labor all night long.

Ahhh...the joys of the job. This patient was complimenting me and praising nurses, and getting a little teary, as I'm putting in a catheter. I thought it was so nice to hear so many nice things about the care I was giving and my job in general.

The phrase that she said that stuck out to me was "Where were you this morning when I needed you?". It makes me feel like I'm giving optimal care when a patient states, like this phrase, that they would have welcomed my nursing care in another shift where I wasn't present.

I got lots of good feedback from this patient about some of my habits that are helpful! I often throw in a ton of teaching about what I'm doing and why throughout the labor. She told me, very articulately, what was helpful! That's great!

It is nice to bond with a couple. That is one special part about my job! I like making my way into the hearts of the dads. It is kind of like a challenge. I want to get one smile out of them. Or a laugh. And I want to win their trust that my intentions are to give the best care to their wives as possible. Some warm up quickly, and some take a little working on! Humor almost always helps!

So, cheers to a successful night of nursing! Yeah for nice patients! Yeah for positive feedback!

Now, I'm off to bed. This was my last night of three....one day shift to go on monday before I have a week off and we head to KC on thursday! Nite!

Tidbits of life...

-today is a day off for me! After working three 12-hour nights over the weekend.
-a high school friend, Jackie, had a baby in the last few days that I found out about today! A little girl named Elianna Joy!
-I got to sing with Jason at the Devotion set before the Encounter God Service last night and I really enjoyed it! I love that devotion stuff!
-tonight is girls night! I love girls night! And we are having a yummy potluck this month instead of going out to a restaurant. Also, one of us is getting married next month so we are bringing a little gift to make it feel a tiny bit like a surprise shower! Even though the potluck is at her house...so there will be no decorations or anything!
-yesterday launched a little lifestyle experiment for myself...we'll see how that goes...
-we leave for KC in 9 days or so!

I had the weirdest dream this last night. I woke up and realized that I had been crying because my eyes and checks were wet! I dreamt that Shane, me, Steph, my brother Shaun, my mom and my dad all went to the resort in Mexico that Shane and I went to for our honeymoon! I was excited about it, because it was really nice the first time that we went there! Well, this time, the accommodations were terrible! We were far from the pool and restaurants, and had to hike up a dirt trail, that was very muddy, and not lit in the dark, to find our room. We were all staying in one big room. It was terrible! Then, one afternoon at the pool, we ended up sitting next to my grandma and some others we recognized, along with a lady that I work with at the hospital. My grandma did some swimming and everything! Shane and I wanted to pay to up our room to a better one, but we thought it was kind of pointless, as we were only in Mexico for the weekend! I was so disappointed with the resort, the accommodations, the short stay, etc, that I ended up crying throughout my dream! How sad!

On an entirely different note, I got tagged by Lanney. Here are some facts about me!

FOUR JOBS I'VE HAD:
...these are just four of the many!......
1. Santa Clause Photographer
2. Children's retail worker - at Please Mum
3. Receptionist - at a massage clinic
4. Nurse!

FOUR MOVIES/SHOWS I'VE BEEN ADDICTED TO:
...well, I don't really watch tv...so this could represent the very distant past!
1. Amazing Race (present)
2. Survivor (past)
3. Dr. Phil (past and present)
4. Full House (very past)

FOUR PLACES I'VE LIVED:
1. Mitchell, Manitoba (two different homes)
2. Winnipeg, Manitoba (appartment on St.M)
3. Winnipeg Manitoba (apparment on St.A)
4. Winnipeg, Maniotba (present dwellings)

FOUR COUNTRIES I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT:
1. Africa (any country on this continent!)
2. England (or Europe in general)
3. Israel (definitely)
4. Australia (why not)

FOUR POPULAR FALSE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ME:
1. That I always have a clean house (I'm not so good at keeping up with those silly dishes)
2. That I'm a resident with my lab coat on!
3. ...can't think of any others!!!!......
4.

FOUR PEOPLE I LOOK LIKE (according to some people):
1. My sister!
2. Jennifer Garner (according to a patient and her husband that I had at the hospital a few weeks ago)
3. Jennifer Love Hewitt (according to a nice young boy in junior high)
4. Julia Stiles (according to a few people over the years...both Steph and I)

FOUR THINGS (I HOPE) TO DO BEFORE I DIE:
1. see Jesus
2. hear the audible voice of the Lord
3. travel over the world
4. have beautiful babies with my hubbie!

PEOPLE I TAG NEXT:
1. Shane
2. Christina
3. Jacquie
4. Deanna

IT IS OFFICIAL!!!!

Shane and I are going to Kansas City in 2 weeks with Jason and Yvonne for the weekend! I was pretty certain but there is always a little pause in the back of my mind when the boss hasn't officially ok'd it.

I just got off the phone with him. I had to switch three 12 hour shifts in order to work it out....and could find 2 others to switch 2 of my days with, and none for that third day. So, he switched it for me!!!

Now it is official! I'm off those days! The boss has written it down and given his approval! Yippee! Kansas City here we come! I'm totally excited and can't wait to see that wonderful city again! Now I can let myself get all excited!

What a nice day!

Shane and I spent the day in Steinbach together today. First, we dropped off our taxes and bumped into Shane's grandpa and mom. That was neat! A total blessing was that the wonderful tax man did our taxes today for us, so that we had the figures by the time we left Steinbach! How totally nice! Pat and Alvina totally blessed us...and it is generally great to see them! Taxes were so good to us this year. I'm totally flying with the combination of a really sugary slurpee and the knowledge of our tax return!

Then we got to pop in to my mom's and play with KK a little! KK is the nickname we call my 2 year old foster brother. Shane loves to chase him around the appartment and tickle him. KK's giggle is so sweet!

Off we went to get our hair cut! That is always a good time, as our hair girl is Becki, Steph's good friend. It is kinda like we are all just hanging out! She does a great job! And, we both got some extra color in our hair this time! So fun!

What a nice day together!

Oh, just a little something I was reading yesterday. Some fun facts about kissing!

Kissing my be good for your health

An article in Health magazine titled "Kiss me, Please" cited the following kissing facts:
- Kissing relieves stress by releasing mood-elevating endorphins in the brain
- It burns two calories per minute - and could lead to more exercise
- It firms the muscles in your face (and it's cheaper than a face-lift!)
- Swapping saliva with someone boosts your immune system by helping the body bolster its defenses
-It's fun!

So, on that note! I'm going to go and smooch my sweetie!

What a nice weekend!

We had a really nice weekend together as a family! There was a mix-up on our reservations to begin with. But, they ended up giving us the "executive suite" for the two nights for the same price as our original reservations of the basic room. Besides the discomfort of the beds, the weekend was really nice! We did a lot of eating of yummy food (Red Lobster, Pancake House, etc), did a lot of lying around and sharing the king-sized bed while watching movies/shows on tv, and did some hot-tubbing and water-sliding!

I really love my family members. I also love to see my husband enjoying my family. What a sport he is! To share living space with my family for 2 nights and enjoy himself throughout the time we were there! Wow, do I ever appreciate that.

Then to end a nice weekend, Steph, Shane and I went down to Altona with some other Sanctuary people to do a Celebration Service in a church down there. It was our first time going somewhere representing the house of prayer. That was really neat! We brought a worship team, some prayer/prophetic guys, and Steph and I were the dancers. Thinking back, I haven't danced since the first weekend in November at WCV's anniversary weekend! I can't believe it has been that long! 4 months! Boy, without any practice, I was pretty rusty, but it felt good to move again. I think something that has been keeping me away from dance, is the frustration that it can bring. Partly related to the fact that I feel so limited in the movement that I do. But, there is something that dance brings for me in worship, that other forms do not. So, I think I had better dance a little more often!

I was just so pleased with our team last night. The worship people did a wonderful job leading the people in worship. The ones of us that prayed did a fabulous job of modelling what we love to do, are just learning to do and inviting others to do it too!....interceding for the church we were visiting, the town of Altona and giving words for individual people in the room. It was an incredible evening to be apart of, especially in a team dynamic. It was an awesome experience to do with a spouse too. I was so proud of my hubbie...watching him as he prayed in the mic with passion, and had nuggets to share with individual people. He's my firey one!

I am so excited about the things that will be happening with the House of Prayer. I am so pleased with the group of awesome people that I get to partner with! I am pumped to see where God is going to take us with him individually, with him corporately, with each other, and in the world! This is such an exciting time in our lives!

How excited am I........

Tonight we are going to a hotel for the weekend with my family! Shane and I, Steph, Shaun and mom are all spending the weekend together, squished into a hotel room!

I'm so looking forward to staying at a hotel, being with my family, relaxing with them, swimming/hot tubbing with them, eating with them, and even sleeping with them! It should be interesting!!!

But, before the excitement begins, I have to do a full-day course on my Neonatal Resuscitation Program. It should be good. I have to pass a mock code at the end in order to get my final pass. Guess I should run along now and get to work!

I'd like to use the same lines....

..as last post....busy, busy, busy....

That was my night at work. We were swamped on L & D! And you know, two deliveries in one shift is definitely enough for me. Though the mixture of stress and adrenalin made the night go by quickly! And I was with two very pleasant couples, which makes the shift SO much nicer!

Ok....time for sleep! Hopefully, I will NOT dream about work today,as I very often do. Yesterday I didn't and I don't know why I assume so, but I do assume it had something to do with the ear plugs and the peaceful silence I slept in. I think it is all in my head!....ahhh...starting to not make any sense....must sleep....

Busy, busy, busy!

Yikes, work has been incredibly busy already this weekend! And it's only just begun! Both of the last 2 nights, work has called for me to come in early. No thanks. 12 hours of the day is long enough if I'm supposed to come back for another tomorrow!

Not much else is on my mind tonight. On my working weekends, I pretty much eat a little, sleep and work. Today I did try those lovely musician plugs again. And they stayed in my ears all day! I didn't take them out in my sleep! They are a little tender to my sensitive ears, but otherwise, definitely helped drown out little noises around this place!

Well, I'm going to watch a little of the prayer room before I header to work! Have enjoyable weekends all!