Baby Shower!

Tonight we had a fun night celebrating the coming arrival of a very special little person! We had a shower for Jacquie and Justice!

It is a ton of fun watching someone open a whole bunch of gifts! It is fun to be around a bunch of women sometimes =) And, it is great to eat party food!

Here are just a few peaks of the evening!


The gifts BEFORE


Jacquie giggling over the Peepee Teepees!


Opening a beautiful gift from her sister!


An amazing scrapbook!


And now a peak at the some of the friends!






The gifts AFTER

Singing, singing and singing!

I had my first type of voice recital tonight! We had a Master Class where my teacher brought in another voice teacher to listen to us students sing and then commented with suggestions. The "master" of the night happened to be her mom who has been teaching voice for 45 years!

I haven't really been thinking about it too much, so I haven't been nervous. Until this evening. I got a little nervous just before leaving for the recital. Then, when we arrived and it started, I got SUPER nervous. I was more nervous for my piece than I was over any of the 3 surgeries I've had since August! I hate that feeling!

I was the third singer on the program. It was nice to see how it worked with the critiquing with the two students before me!

Well, I had more wavering in my voice than usual because of the nerves, I sang the wrong word in the exact spot that I had hoped not to and then there was my right leg. It was shaking like a leaf! Just the right one. And it was incredibly distracting!

But, Shane was a great cheerleader, like he always is! He is so supportive! He said I did great!

I am really pleased that I did it! It was a great experience and I'm proud of myself! It really reinforced to both Shane and myself that these voice lessons are an incredibly smart investment if I want to be singing in a House of Prayer context for many years to come!


Getting ready to leave for the recital!


You can see right up my nose and way down my throat! Attractive!


My husband is so hot!

Family Day...

Today wasn't feeling like a holiday, but after returning from Sanctuary this morning and seeing faces that we don't always get to see because of the holiday, it is starting to have a holiday feel to the day. It makes me feel relaxed!

So, my brother is over. He spent last night at our place and was going to head home this afternoon, but he's going to stay another night and hang with us! We're going to relax, study, read and enjoy each other's company! I'm sure the boys will pull out hockey or football on the playstation sometime today. It's entertaining to watch them play!

I'm in the mood to dive into a little more Song of Solomon today. I've been on a book of Joel kick lately and have centered most of my study/teaching time to that book. I'm trying to balance the urgency side (Joel) with the intimacy side (Song of Solomon). It is a fun combo!

Have a wonderful, relaxing holiday Manitobans!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Ahhh...the day is coming to a close and I'm feeling very loved by my wonderful husband! Shane did a great job today! I'll fill you in with the details.

We awoke this morning to start the day off right, with a snuggle and my morning voice singing some rendition of "happy valentine's day" made into a song. We got ready, did a few things around the house and headed out for our Valentine's Day Date.

First stop was at U Puttz, a glow mini-golfing place! We had a lot of fun together and it was great to be the only customers in the entire place at 12:30pm on a Thursday! We got some fun pictures!

Then we headed to Earl's in St.Vital for a great lunch! That Pan Bread as garlic bread is awesome! We really enjoyed the atmosphere this time and the company and conversation was lovely =)

We headed to the mall as Shane wanted to show me a gift he had wanted for buy me! So, we left the mall not too much later with a lovely gift for me! How sweet! Shane bought me a very nice sweater!

Then we made a pit-stop at Sobey's for milk, as we are normal married people in the midst of a romantic date together!

Then it was off to the movie store to rent a movie for later that evening. We ended up renting No Reservations...more on that later in this play-by-play!

We headed home, as I had to leave shortly for voice lessons, which I must add, I LOVE!

On the way home, I picked up Shane and we headed to Subway to pick up Valentine's Day supper as Shane was previously planning on cooking me dinner, but is still feeling under the weather...

We had Subway at home and watched the end of the news. We finished the evening with the movie we had rented. It wasn't great. Slow, a little boring and kinda depressing. Not one that I would suggest.

Now we will do the usual and have tea together before bed!

What a lovely Valentine's Day and I have the best valentine!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you.....

I'm singing the chorus to my sister who is turning 23 today and my mom who is turning 51 today! Our family is great for doubling up birthdays!

Happy Birthday to my favorite ladies!

Birthday Celebration #2!

To finish off this year's celebrations, we spent a few more hours together! We got beautiful and relaxing pedicures!


First lunch at our apartment!


Then to Giselle's School for pedicures!


I've developed really ticklish feet as an adult!




Tomorrow is one last family birthday celebration at mom's for supper. Otherwise, the birthday plans are complete!

Steph's Birthday Celebration #1 - Warning! Many pictures!

Steph and I had a wonderful day together! I put together a type of treasure hunt, where she had clues to read throughout the day. We started by heading to Pineridge Hollow for a wonderful lunch, amidst the "travel not advised" road conditions! And I'm so glad we did! The atmosphere, food, company and conversation were lovely!





Then we were supposed to head over to St.Vital Park to go skating. Well, it is STINKIN' COLD today! So, we headed to the Forks to look around!



Then it was off to Pharaoh's "Hideaway From The Everyday" Spa on an exclusive resort in Egypt! We had facials, complete with the cucumbers over our eyes and lay on our beach towels in the sun to the sound of Norah Jones =)





It was time for supper! We can't leave tradition alone, so it was time for brunch! Our favorite....waffles, white sauce and berries! Mmmmmmm!!!




Then it was off to get another favorite....slurpees and 5 cent candies from 7-11!!! We got cozy in comfy clothes and watched a chick flick, Sydney White, a spoof off Snow White. We laughed ourselves silly in a few scenes and had to pause the movie to laugh. Unfortunately, the ending was a little inappropriate =(



Here are the ladies after the party =) And a shot of the birthday girl with the treasure hunt clues!




Happy early birthday Steph! I had a wonderful day with you!

Shane's poor head....the saga continues....


Well, December 15 it started. Shane got a concussion on the way in to the first Christmas family gathering of the season.

Daily headaches followed amongst other side effects.

December 31, Shane hit his head again on the way to get the mail.

More headaches have continued.

Tuesday to Wednesday during the night....well....I somehow manage to head butt my husband hard in the right temple. He saw stars and I rolled over and slept on!

Wednesday morning and afternoon, Shane is feeling quite sick, has a really bad headache and actually pukes!

Did I add to the head trauma in the middle of the night? Oh, my poor husband!

Pictures of the Hotel Weekend....better late than never!


Shane and I coming down the slide!


And hurt ourselves! Ouch!


Steph and Shaun hanging out...literally =)


Early birthday celebrations at Red Lobster!


Mom blowing out her candle!


Steph blowing out her candle! (They share a bday!)


The family together before we parted from a lovely and relaxing weekend! Until next year!

It was a busy day. But I enjoyed it. Lots of errands.

I wanted to post some pictures of the hotel weekend, but I just want to get off the computer. So, tomorrow will have to do!

Nite!

This side of heaven...or at least life on this earth prior to the return of Jesus....

Man, there has been bad news after bad news these last 2 weeks. The death of a baby, the death of a young woman, someone being diagnosed with cancer and someone having a horrific car accident. What is going on?!

There is so much that needs prayer. I long for the day when wrong things are made right and when there is no more bad news! I long for the day when we get to be with Jesus and He wipes every tear from our eyes. For now, I trust in Him and pray....

The safest place is in the palm of His hand. That's where I want to rest.

Off to the Hotel for the Weekend!

Like we do each year, my mom, the siblings, Shane and I are off to a hotel this weekend to relax, eat, swim and be together. It is our Christmas present from my mom each year and we love it!

I am totally looking forward to it! Even though we're not even leaving the City, it feels like we're going away for a bit! So nice!

Hot tub here I come!

The Millennial Kingdom....fascinating!

Tonight was our third session of Omega. The group of ladies that we have this round is awesome! Fabulous people! The questions and discussions are great!

Tonight we learnt about the Millennial Kingdom. I've heard this exact teaching 4 times over and still am both shocked and excited by the truth of the Word of God.

Knowing what is to come is such motivation to live rightly now! Forgiveness is the door into the Kingdom....not the whole story! There is so much more!

How exciting!

Here we go....Physio!

Today I started physio again for the new year of 2008. Post-op physiotherapy started!

How I love my physiotherapist! She is wonderful! The benefits of continuity of care....she knows my wrist so well and has walked with me since February of last year with my whole wrist issue. I trust her more than anyone in the area of my wrist because she knows it so well!

We didn't do much with this lovely wrist today, as it is still trying to heal up and scar up since surgery. I did some ROM (range of motion) and am feeling a little sore this evening.

Back to the torture in the next few weeks! But it is for a good cause!

The Wind is a Blowin'...

Sometimes I enjoy a good storm. My husband sure does!

I kinda like the creaking and blowing sounds that the wind causes our apartment building to make! It's so nice to be in a warm home when you hear those sounds.
Thankfully, with the new windows we got in October, there is a no more of the rattling noises when the wind picks up! I sure don't miss that noise!

Ah...the joys of Manitoba winters and apartment buildings =)

Date Night!

I sure do love date night! And, I enjoyed watching The Game Plan with my hubbie tonight! It was fun!

Whether it's a walk in summer, a movie rental, a night at the kitchen table working on a puzzle together or a date at the ballet (because after watching the movie I'm in the mood to go to the ballet), I sure do like the guy I married 3 and a half years ago! I hope to have date nights for a very long time with the man I love!

Orientation

It's 8:30pm Thursday night. There are 19 people in my living room. It's Orientation Night for Sanctuary House of Prayer and our living room is the location for it this time around.

A few months ago, we fit in Starbuck's with 5 people. Now there are many more people who are here to hear about who we are as Sanctuary and why we exist. They would have taken over the whole coffee shop and even then not had enough chairs. People are sitting on our chairs, couches, stools and the floor because there is not enough space.

That is the Lord.

Things that make me happy:

- sleeping on my stomach! (I'd like to compare it to eating a big meal when you're really hungry! Ahhhh...)
- eating Vector cereal for breakfast! Mmmmmmm....I love it!
- really nice shadows
- the effect of endorphins after exercise
- random bits of information =)

Question: What speaks love?

Answer: Taking out the recycling in -30 degree weather (without even being asked or it really needing to be done) =)

Enjoying a relaxing Saturday afternoon and evening....

...while the weekends are still relatively quiet.

I'm preparing myself for getting back into shift work. I am reminded that one day soon, when I get the go ahead to resume work, I will not have all these lovely, relaxing weekends without plans. Suddenly, the few weekends I do have off, could be filled with things to do, if I remember correctly.

Relaxing Saturdays are most often a blessing. Other times, I get a little antsy and want to socialize. When I was working my regular position, I generally didn't mind working on Saturdays. Saturday work isn't a big deal to me, unless I have somewhere that I want to be that particular day!

Sundays are another story! I would like every Sunday without work! With our present Sunday schedule, I find them both relaxing and busy. Sunday wake-up until 2:30pm is extremely relaxing around our place. As soon as 2:30pm hits, we kick into gear and don't stop until 9 or 9:30pm when we arrive home from our marathon day at Sanctuary. I enjoy it!

So, today was fairly relaxing and tomorrow will be relaxing and busy all in one! I'm looking forward to it! Another Sanctuary Sunday that I get to sing with the Song of Solomon team!

"Let the Puzzles Begin!"

Yes, you heard right. Puzzles. Not games.

See, Shane is NOT a fan of games. Sometimes, he humors me. Other times, he just downright refuses.

So, we had a new idea! Puzzles!

I've never been a puzzler ever in my life. But, I'm into giving it a try in the name of "quality time" with my husband! I'm always game for a cheap to free way of spending quality time without having to leave the house!

So, this is our newest experiment. Tonight was the first puzzle night of our marriage. It was fun! Relaxing!

...though, I must admit not being able to complete it immediately is a little frustrating! I like the kind of activity where I can accomplish something faster!

So, here's to many date nights of puzzling! (Don't worry, it's ok to laugh!)

Singing, singing, and singing!

Today I started voice lessons with a new teacher! The first voice lesson of 2008! And I really like her already!

I took a 6 week course in the fall, but didn't continue. With the new year starting, I felt a new desire to take some voice lessons and try a different setting and teacher.

This lovely lady, Cynthia, teaches out of her home. I got her name from my aunt. I wanted a personal contact so that I knew the person would be good! I sure like the setting of a home better, so far! She is super pleasant and I think we're going to get along great!

I'm really excited to see what will come of this! I hope she can give me training and tools to refine the not-as-pleasant parts of my instrument!

Omega

Tonight we're starting another round of the course called Omega. It is an 8-week course about the End Times. Shane and I are hosting and leading it with my sister, Steph. There are 6 others who are attending that have never taken the course before. I'm excited about that! I remember hearing some of these truths for the first time. It was a little crazy and mind-blowing!

Shane and I have taken the course once in 2005 and this is our third time leading it together since July of 2007. We always learn new revelation each time! Hearing yourself say the truths out loud and discuss it also makes it go a little deeper each time.

I'm excited to see what will happen in the next number of weeks. Because of events and the Global Bridegroom Fast one week each month, we will only finish the course at the end of March.

Here we go!

Studies in Joel

I'm going through the book of Joel with help from Mike Bickle's teaching CDs and study guide. Boy, it's an awesome book of the Bible!

Some thoughts on my mind today from the book of Joel are:

- Fasting and prayer intensify wholeheartedness. It's wholeheartedness that God is after, but the fasting and prayer aid in the process. Fasting and prayer as isolated actions aren't what move His heart. Many religions of the world incorporate fasting and prayer directed at many false gods.

- We need our hearts gripped, not just our minds stirred!

- Leaders must "give ear" and give themselves to the message of Joel. When leaders enter into fasting and prayer and lead by example, "the inhabitants of the land" tune in. The blessing of God arises when leaders lead in God's way.

- The primary problem is God's zeal (not the sin of man or Satan) and the primary solution is God's smile and favor.

As isolated sentences, some of these concepts may not make a ton of sense, but there is some awesome stuff to learn from the book of Joel! I'd suggest studying it to any of you!

We have such an incredibly kind God who gives us so much warning in the Word that trouble is coming and ways to prepare our hearts for this time of history. It truly will be like no other time ever before or ever again. Trouble is coming. And He's so kind to prepare us and warn us ahead of time...

The Wrist...

Is slowly getting better! I can lift a little more and grip a little more than last week for sure!

This morning I got to take off the steristrips and see "my holes", as I like to call them! 4 little scab marks which reveal the entrances to the "underworld" of the inside of my wrist. No stitches or anything! I've got artwork abounding on my left wrist with the scar from August still present, along with 4 hole marks!

Still praying for healing...

Family Night with the Siblings!

Yesterday we had family night, thanks to Shaun's idea and request! We enjoyed each other's presence as siblings and it was nice! Just Shane, Shaun, Steph and myself!

We had a nice coffee to start off the evening and a little walk to Walmart. Then out for a bite to eat and back to our place to watch a movie together. It was nice to be together so intentionally! I have incredibly special siblings! My favorite in the world!

Yes, I forgot to post yesterday before bed. Oh well!

I know you're out there readers and lurkers..... I sure would appreciate some comments!

The Revealing.....

Today was "Remove the Dressing" Day, here at our place. I removed layer after layer of the dressing until it was just my own arm and the steristrips that have to stay on until Sunday. My arm has been sore and really stiff today since it is on its own now without many padded layers =)







After many attempts with photobucket, these pictures just won't load the right side up to blogger! Oh well!

World Wide Prayer

Tonight we had our last prayer meeting for our 3-day Global Bridegroom Fast, which we do at the beginning of every month. Each Wednesday of the GBF we focus our prayer meeting on the globe! I love expanding our intercession beyond Winnipeg and Canada sometimes!

Tonight we covered off places like Pakistan, North Korea, Nepal, the USA, Israel, and the Middle East. It's like you get to travel in the spirit when you pray for so many places around the globe in a corporate setting. My prayers for these places are just as effective sitting in a living room in Canada than if they were my country of residence.

Jesus, pour out Your Spirit on the whole wide world!

Water.

We were without it when we woke up this morning.

Went to the in-laws' to shower.

You simply need running water when you're hosting a prayer meeting....especially when one of the 15 is pregnant=)

It's amazing the little things we love and don't realize that we need so much until they are gone for a time. Like hands and water.

My husband awoke me from a deep sleep. I was dreaming away. In reality we had the surprise visit of two lovely visitors. In my foggy, sleep-affected brain, I gave them parting words of encouragement....

"Sometimes there's hope!"

I didn't realize that it wasn't perfect advice until all three responded in a funny way and blamed it on my sleepy mind!
In reality there is always hope!

Made it out of the house today....

Other than a meeting on Friday, I haven't left the house since returning from the hospital on Thursday. It's Sunday today, and I got out! And I'm feeling quite a lot better than I felt the last two days!

Nothing much to say today.....

Yucky...

I had a super rough night, which meant Shane did too. I hardly slept at all, or so it felt. I hacked all night, resulting in giving myself a headache, sore muscles, a sore throat and a disappearing voice. I tossed and turned, had a 2am dose of cough syrup, then a 6am dose of Tylenol and finally rest a little until 11:30am.

At 1pm it was back to bed where I slept the best yet, even though still disturbed at times with my cough and my wrist. I stayed sleeping until I dragged myself out of bed at 4:30pm. I could have stayed in bed a while longer.

I'm still in my pjs, my hair is gross but why worry about it when I'm headed back to bed in a little while?

Shane's been super helpful and kind. It's amazing how many small tasks require two hands. We definitely can take the blessing of two working hands for granted when we don't have to function any other way. It's kind hard to button up your jeans (though I'm getting better at it!), put toothpaste on your toothbrush, open a jar or letter and it's impossible to attempt a ponytail without two hands!

On the outside I'm in rough shape, but on the inside I'm feeling encouraged and feel the nearness and comfort of the One whose love is better than wine!

A Few Thoughts....

My sister is wonderful. She came over with slurpees and a good movie and made us a yummy supper! So sweet!

T3s seem to wake me up instead of make me sleepy. The arm is a little sore but really doing very good! The fever has not returned but the cough is nasty and it's playing a toll on my voice.

The familiar smell of fish is wafting under our door again. Who cooks fish at 10pm?

The wrist still feels good but.......

The rest of me doesn't feel so hot. Well, that's not true. I am hot. 38.3 degrees hot. I think I'm a little sick other than my wrist.

Nothing tylenol, fluids and a cool cloth can't fix!

Surgery is complete!

I'm back home and so far feel great! The combo of the peace that passes understanding, prayer and fentanyl worked like a dream for me! I feel really good! I felt really peaceful throughout the surgery and in recovery.

I was awake and alert throughout the procedure, asking the surgeon questions. I got to watch the whole thing on the camera screen! I think the inside of my wrist resembles an aquarium! I also got in to surgery 45 minutes early, so that was really nice!

I DON'T NEED ANY OTHER SURGERY OR A FUSION!!!!! YIPPEE! THANK-YOU LORD!

A neat note is that there isn't a tear in the ligament after all! So, there was a possibility all along that the MRI picture wasn't totally correct because at that time the ganglion was in the way. But, there is also the possibility that it was there and isn't now because of the healing hand of the Lord! I like that option!

My ligament is a little stretched so there was something not quite right, but hopefully a look around and a flush of the area will be the last thing I needed and hopefully the pain will go away for good!

Thanks for all your prayers! They totally work! Continue to pray that I'm pain-free as the freezing starts to wear off and as I recover in the next few weeks.


It's almost the size of my head!


My beautiful bandage


"What happened to you?" "I had a run-in with a bear. He's looking worse."


Does one side look a little bigger to you, or is it just me?

....the countdown in on!

I have 35 minutes left to eat or drink! Nothing to eat tomorrow isn't that big a deal. But, nothing to drink for 15-16 hours is a big deal to me! I'm going to be parched! And I'm sure the breathe won't be pleasant! Lovely thought to leave you with!

To the fridge I go!

I'm having surgery tomorrow....

Shane and I went to see the surgeon this morning. Everything is arranged for a scope tomorrow afternoon at 1:30pm. Dr. Turner is going in with a little camera. There are going to be 4 very small incisions, around my old scar. Supposedly this is going to be more painful, recovery-wise, than my ganglion removal in August. Yuck! He never gave me a prescription last time and this time he told me to fill the T3 prescription beforehand. So we did and they are in the cupboard. Hopefully I won't have to use them!

I have a few options for how much I want to be aware of what is going on. Some are super anxious and get put to sleep. Others just get a little sedated and sleepy. Others stay awake because their arm is frozen and supposedly they don't feel anything anyways.

I was prepared for the sedation. But, now I find out that if I stay awake and alert, I get to watch the scope on the screen and can see what he's doing inside my wrist! That sounds like something I might enjoy! So, we'll see what tomorrow brings.

I still am hoping and praying for a supernatural healing before 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. Shane and I prayed for my wrist in the office while we were waiting this morning. Unfortunately the scar did not disappear, but I'm trusting that God knows exactly what is going on. This issue will not last one extra day than what He allows.

So, I ask for your prayers in the next few days, and especially tomorrow. We are to arrive at the hospital at 11:30am and my OR is slated for 1:30pm for an hour. Continue to pray for supernatural healing. Pray for wisdom and skill for Dr. Turner. Pray for peace, comfort and protection for myself. Pray for the removal of all pain. Pray that the cause of the pain is easily found and solved, without any more surgeries necessary!

We'll keep you informed! Thanks for your prayers! They really matter!

HELLO 2008!!!

I love the beginning of a new year! 2008, here we come!