onething is coming to Winnipeg! Best of all this conference is absolutely free! This is not a typo and you are reading the statement right. The conference is ABSOLUTELY FREE!! If you are a Winnipegger or living in Manitoba then this will be music to your ear.

If you are a youth Pastor, or youth leader. This conference I highly recommend you bring your youth too. There is no conference that I have ever been to that is like this conference. It will change and challenge you and your youth group.

The conference is being held on October 26-27 at Calvary Temple in Winnipeg. To register click on any of the words that say onething on this page. For more details click on anything that says onething as well.

What is onething exactly?

onething is a part of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri (IHOP–KC). Beginning in 1999, Mike Bickle gathered a few young adults together to start a prayer meeting that has continued night and day since. With every prayer meeting having a full worship team, we total 84 two-hour prayer meetings a week with over 1,000 people involved, continuing over seven years of unceasing night and day prayer, and continue to watch the fire on the altar burn unceasingly.

It is from this seedbed of night and day prayer that we call this generation to a wholehearted pursuit of God, challenging them to seek Him with lives of prayer, fasting and fulfilling the Great Commission. Each year, we have over nine conferences around the nation. Also, we offer two leadership summits and a youth conference, which imparts vision and demonstrates practical ways to living out wholehearted devotion. We desire to see millions of young adults have deep understanding of God’s emotions and profound knowledge of the hour in which they live.

Watch the video below for more information on what onething is.

7 years ago today.....

Funny how times flies when you're having fun! 7 years ago today, September 8, 2000, Shane and I officially started our relationship as a dating couple. 3 years and almost a month later we were engaged on October 3, 2003. Then the big day came on June 12, 2004 and here we are today, over 3 years of marriage under our belts! That last 7 years have been a blast in relationship with my favorite guy! I can't imagine life without him!

On the wrist front, I started physio again yesterday. I am able to see the same physiotherapist as I did February through June of this year. She was shocked that I had surgery so fast (as I was!). Good thing I've gone to see her. The scar is healing nicely on the outside, but definitely needs some work. It is quite raised, actually it looks bigger than the ganglion did! So, I'm on a strict schedule. I have to do 4 minutes of scar massage 4 times a day....and that is painful! It feels like pressing on a bruise over and over intentionally! I have to stretch my wrist every hour and do some of my old putty exercises. My wrist doesn't want to move much because of a big mass of scar tissue! The next 3 weeks of healing are important in my job of working on this scar!

The exciting news is that the doctor and physio told me to play some guitar! I played 10 minutes for 2 mornings without bothering my wrist noticeably! Yeah!

Prayers on My Heart

I've had a prayer on my heart lately. I'm asking that God would strengthen my yes for everything that is of Himself.

I really desire a perspective change. I want to think like Him. I want to process like Him. I want to be willing to do anything for Him.

I want to walk so in-step with Him that I am willing to do or say anything the moment that He leads. Wouldn't that be great?! A partner who walks so closely to Him and knows His heart, that there would be no doubt and no question when He asks things of me. I would do ANYTHING, ANYTIME!!! That's what I want.

Along with that prayer, comes the prayer that God would loosen and release my grip on the things of this world. I don't want to be hanging on to anything else. I only want to be hanging on to the arm of my Bridegroom. I tend to feel busy on the inside. My mind or heart can be so distracted by things of this world that really don't matter in light of eternity. They aren't bad things but the way they effect me isn't right. They don't deserve so much thought, emotion or attention.

In the midst of so many natural, human needs and processes, I don't want any of them to be the main thing on my mind or heart. I want God. I want Him to consume me. Then I can do all the normal, human things that need to be done from that place.

I want to be a wife, sister, daughter, friend, mother (one day), nurse, intercessory missionary, secondary to my first pursuit of being a lover of Jesus.

Provision....

I'm feeling encouraged today.

I've been feeling on the down side lately, really feeling our financial needs somewhat consume my thoughts. I had a really good time in prayer yesterday, with some tears, and feel so much better both yesterday for the rest of the day and today. The encouragement hasn't come from miraculous provision between yesterday and today, but instead from the encouragement and breakthrough that can only come from the Holy Spirit on my inner man.

I don't want to be secure and relieved when the needs are met alone. I want to feel the same way when I'm in need without seeing the provision, as when I have plenty. I don't want the things of this world to consume my heart, soul, mind or strength and rob me from peace on the inside. Whether we have a struggle or a miracle, I want to have the same joy, peace and confidence in His provision in my life.

I sure wish that I could snap my fingers that I would have all the confidence, trust and faith in the world. I do have such small faith and often find myself doubting. How I long to be more mature!

The provision praise report for today is related to physiotherapy. I wanted to see the same girl that I saw for so many months earlier this year. I like knowing that she already knows my wrist so well. The problem, I found out this morning, was that she has moved to private practice and with my limited benefit plan, I'd have to pay her myself. Not going to happen.

So, I made a call to WCB to ask if they would be willing to cover the cost and I could see the same physiotherapist. They had no problem with that at all and told me I didn't even need a doctor's referral, which is usually like gold! I am encouraged that even the physiotherapist I wanted to see has been covered! Thank-you God!

Omega Course

Tonight we finished our second round of the Omega Course. Omega is an 8 week course on the End Times. We have had a blast with just a small group of 4 in our living room each Wednesday night (minus tonight and the Global Bridegroom Fast weeks!). The same principles and truths in the Word come alive in new ways when you hear them multiple times!

It was a great few weeks enjoying good food (a few suppers together and a few cheesecakes!), good fellowship and great teaching! That is a great way to spend time!

And Shane and I are preparing to do it all over again in September! We want this deep in our grid!

Sleep....

I'm sleeping like crazy this week! I actually let myself sleep in the last 3 days, pretending that my recovery with my wrist is holidays. And I'm sleeping a lot! It has felt quite refreshing! Though sleeping in like this every day would be such a waste of life longterm!

I'm taking the next few weeks to do a few things while I still have the time. I'm hoping to go and see my mom one of these days and I'm doing a coffee time with a friend here or there. I've started a grocery project on a spreadsheet (I'm turning into Jason!), where I'm going to visit each grocery store around our place to find out where I should be buying what. I'm really enjoying a DVD teaching series on Song of Solomon by a woman named Diane Hallam. We're finishing up the second round of Omega on Monday.

I'm really cherishing these last few weeks with the amount of time I have with Shane. These last 6 months have been so special for our marriage and I'm clinging to the rest of the time we have left before I'm at work more often. I love the occasional walk or Starbuck's in the middle of the day when we both need a break from studying. It is so great to be around each other so much! I'm not nearly sick of him! And that's a good thing because if the Lord blesses us with what I desire for the future, we'll be doing family and house of prayer stuff together full-time in the years to come!

So, I'm cherishing today and asking the Lord to prepare my heart for what is to come!

HAPPY 27TH BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY HUSBAND!!!!!

Despite some pain in my left hand, we've managed to spend a very enjoyable weekend celebrating Shane's 27th Birthday! I like the sound of that number....27!

Friday night was our date night. I took Shane to The Keg for supper and boy was he happy about that meal! He did have to cut my steak though as I was a gimp and by supper time the freezing was starting to wear off!

Then we went for a nice walk through St.Vital Park and met up with our friends, the geese and ducks for a time! My favorite thing is when they put their faces under the water to look for food and they are vertical in the air and almost fall over! Their butts are way in the air!

We then headed home to watch one of the Bourne movies!






Yesterday, we celebrated with friends at St.Vital Park in the evening. We had a blast! We had a potluck BBQ and didn't know how long we'd stay but we stayed until the park closed! Shane had so much fun that he was wired up and didn't sleep great last night. That's what happens when you have a great time! Thanks for all who came!

All finished!

It is hard to type with only one hand!

Surgery is done and went really well! I got in a little early, as the lady before me had to go to the bathroom when they called her. So I got in an appointment ahead! We were home by 10:20 instead of starting the surgery at 10:15.

The local anesthetic burned like crazy when the surgeon injected it into my wrist! That was the worst part. Otherwise, I chatted with the doc and nurse throughout the whole procedure. And I could kind of watch! I got to see the stuff he took out after it was over! Just like the scope, it felt weird that I could feel tools inside me!

So far I'm feeling pretty great! Hopefully that stays when the freezing wears off! No dishes for the next few days, as I have to keep the gauze dressing on!




My sister rocks and brought by a surgery present last night! Yeah for gummy candies! Let's celebrate!

12 hours....

It will all be over in 12 hours. Wow!

I'm amazed at the supernatural favor of God. Something I anticipated would take 6 months, took less than 25 hours. That's God for you.

I'm sad to see the beautiful schedule that Shane and I have been blessed with in the past 6 months leave our lives. But it's time to move on. I knew the nice schedule would come to an end sometime.(I've been working days, no evenings, nights or weekends.)

The other part of me is excited. I know that God is in control of all my healing. This is the day that He said "That's enough. This is finished". I felt that. He has given us rich things throughout this last year dealing with my wrist. It was an opportunity for us to develop hearts that would not be offended when healing didn't come right away or in the form that we wanted. Instead, God really did use this time for good!

And now a new season awaits us! When one door is shut, another opens, right?!

I'M IN SHOCK!!!!

I went to see the surgeon this morning. Beautiful, new office! It made me feel more at ease.

He wants to operate on the ganglion and remove it, hoping that all the pain will end with that operation. He doesn't want to do anything with the ligament. The only thing he does for torn ligaments is fuse them! I DO NOT want a fused wrist! That could limit my wrist's mobility by 50%!!! No thank-you!

So, they were booking surgery into 2008, which I had prepared myself for. They had a cancellation in November of 2007. And......a cancellation TOMORROW MORNING!!!!

So, I'm totally in shock. I'm having surgery tomorrow morning at 10:15am and will be off work, recovering, for the next 4-6 weeks. I was not prepared for that!

I was supposed to go in to work for the rest of the day after my appointment but after that news I need to prepare for tomorrow. I had phone calls to make, schedules to readjust, etc. I think I'm going to clean my house a little more today so that it's good for a while. I don't have to worry about that kind of thing because I have a fabulous husband that will take care of it all!

It's kind of sad that surgery is happening right over Shane's birthday weekend. I had plans for the weekend that may not work out, depending on how tomorrow goes and how the pain is after the operation. We'll see!

So, here's how you can help! Pray for me! Pray that tomorrow goes smoothly, that I have minimal or no pain and that this surgery takes away all the pain and limitation. Pray that my ligament heals on its own and no action is needed for that!

Whew! What a morning!

Off to the surgeon's office!!!!

So the day I've waited months for is finally here! I am headed to the surgeon for 9am. I'm praying for favor, answers and a nice, listening surgeon. I'll keep you posted with answers and info!

Pray for me this morning!

Something I really like about my mom....

You know there is something I really like about my mom. I'm a schedule kind of girl and so is my mom. This we have in common and it works well!

I just got a call from her. 10 minutes later we have Shane and Shaun's Birthday Family Dinner, Thanksgiving, a Girls Birthday Night Out and Christmas planned with times and dates and menus! That is my idea of the way to plan things! We've planned everything until February!

Whew! That is speaking my language! Now I'm excited for all these events!

Still a little under the weather....

So I did end up heading to the walk-in on Monday morning. No strep throat! Yeah! Just a mild laryngitis.

The next morning it seemed to progress into cold symptoms and I've been sneezing, coughing, stuffy and occasionally having that aching feeling.

Needless to say, I did not want to give the sweet new babies or their moms my germs and I'm recuperating at home on the couch today. Tomorrow is my long-awaited appointment with the surgeon for my wrist! I'm praying about it and really anticipating it since I've been waiting for further direction!

Tea and a Grandma Grace quilt to snuggle in is what today calls for!

Ouch!

The digital alarm clock shone 5:30am. The sore throat roused the girl from her sleep. With each swallow, she thought she may be swallowing her tonsils. She arose, inquired of walk-in clinic hours and tried then again to return to the land of sleep. To no prevail. The clock shone 6:10. Alas, it is done. The night is over. She arose to greet the day with a warm bath and a warm cup of tea.

Summer Fun with the Family!

We just returned home from a weekend with my family at Rock Lake. It was my brother's 19th birthday on Friday and we all met up at the lake, piled into room 9 for 2 nights and enjoyed being out of the city!

Happy Birthday Shaun!


Mom brought cake, pie and ice cream to celebrate!




We brought presents to open!



Awwwww! Sibling hug!



We spent Saturday at the beach!



Gotta get some Allen time in! Hee hee!

I sure surprised myself!

About that gastroscopy.....

I managed to get through it without any IV or any sedation drugs, which everyone except Shane thought I was a little crazy! The nurses and doctor thought I did amazing and my blood pressure or pulse didn't budge! Usually people's pulses and blood pressures are rising even when they are sedated. But I managed to stay so calm and focussed on my breathing that my pulse didn't even raise. That is the power of prayer.

See, I wouldn't call myself the most calm person. I struggle with anxiety sometimes and thought that anxiety may be a big deal when a tube is down your throat for a number of minutes. I had people praying and had prepared my self with prayer of peace. I, in my own strength couldn't have controlled my pulse and blood pressure! It must have been the peace of God!

The doc said to me after that they now know who to call if they ever want to do an instructional video, as I was the perfect patient! No thanks! I told them that I spend most of every work day telling people how to breathe and stay calm, you'd think I should be able to try and do the same for a few minutes!

I was so proud of myself for being able to go through the scope without any drugs! The anxiety is the thing you are fighting against, not pain. It probably hurts more to go to the dentist than to get a scope done. But it is that freak-out switch that you could flip on at any moment with a tube down your throat! So, the Prince of Peace and I kicked anxiety in the butt on Wednesday! I consider it good practice as there are probably more painful or intense experiences I will experience in my lifetime.

The benefit was I hoped right off that OR table, walked out, changed and was driving myself home 5-10 minutes later! That wouldn't have been the case if I was sedated.

Yeah for Jesus would gives us peace that passes understanding!

Kristi is.....

I'm kinda starting to think like a facebook status. Kristi is......and then I think about what to fill in the blanks.

Today would be "Kristi is....going for a scope! Yuck!". Yep, we're leaving in the next 30 minutes to take the trek to Seven Oaks Hospital across the city. The day of my gastroscopy has come.

I'm getting the scope because my stomach has been bothering me for the past 3 years. I get SUPER nauseous, practically daily but in different degrees. I've been on this pill, Ranitidine for almost 3 years now and really don't want to be on a medication for my whole life!

So, as we pray for healing, I also cooperate with the medical system and do what we need to do in trying to find a solution to the problem. Today is another step in the process.

Silly me said I would do it without the drugs on board! Pray that I won't have too much pain or anxiety as something is down my throat!

Off we go! I can do all things with Christ who strengthens me! That's today's motto!

Praise Report about the Wrist!!!!

So, I've had an appointment to see the surgeon on October 17 for a while now. I'm on my back-to-work program until then. Then surgery could be months away, then 4-6 weeks recovery, etc. So, I'm painting a long, drawn-out picture here before things with this wrist may be finished.

So, I've been hounding my WCB worker in the last few weeks. Never getting calls back. I happened to run into my doctor in Walmart on Monday, who suggested I hound her again that day. I went home and made another call and lo and behold, she answered the phone! She said that she had just sent a letter off that day asking the surgeon to expedite the appointment.

That was positive news! Though I thought something had been done weeks ago...whatever!

So, I'm having God time in the living room yesterday afternoon when the phone rings. It was the surgeon's office! I was really happy to hear from them! Now instead of seeing him October 17, I get to go in August 16! 2 MONTHS EARLIER!!!! The receptionist said it usually takes 4-6 months between your appointment and your surgery, so at least this earlier appointment knocks off 2 months of the process! Only God know the twists and turns of the rest of this unfolding wrist story!

Hey all,

It has been a while since I posted! Summer has been fun and full so far!

Shane and I just got back from spending the night at Rock Lake, a family camp that I've gone to for most years since I was 8 years old. We enjoyed seeing friends, hanging out all day at the beach, having a bonfire, etc. Our friends, Beau and Heather are out from Florida for the week, which was our biggest incentive to get out to the lake this weekend.





Last weekend was full of fun times and sad goodbyes with our friends, Jason and Yvonne, who are moving to Ottawa at the end of this month. We had a nice night out on Friday which included Montana's, lots of conversation, a walk and gelati to end the evening. Then we had a day at the Guse's on Saturday with the Sanctuary crew, which is always enjoyable! Mmmm.....potlucks, people and pools! Fun! Sunday fit well as we prayed off the Parks and exchanged hugs, words and blessings. What a nice way to finish off the weekend!




And, the weekend before last, a few of us went camping at Grand Beach. Shane, Steph, Camilia, Stefan and I piled ourselves and all our gear into the Uplander and headed for the beach. We had yummy food, great bonfires and lots of fun and serious conversation. There has to be some serious conversation when you get 5 SHOPers together for that many consecutive hours! Especially with Stefan, who loves to ask the deep questions randomly!







It has been a month of exciting weekends! We've enjoyed summer so far and still have more to come. I'm craving some quiet time at home after all this activity! Off I go!

Shaun's Graduation!

This past Thursday my little bro, who is not so little, graduated from high school! Now all the biological children in our family are officially finished all necessary public education! Yippee!! Congrats Shaun!

Here are some pics of our grad celebrations at the ceremony!







Shane and I were then going to head out to do some camping but those plans fell through. So instead we spend Friday at Birds Hill, enjoying the beach. We both got a burn, though Shane's is mostly on his chest and mine is only on the side and back of my legs! Silly places!


Then Saturday started with a birthday party for Grandpa, who is turning 87 on Monday!!! We love Grandpa!


And we finished the evening off with a nice barbeque/bonfire at St.Vital Park with Steph, Roman and Stefan. It was lots of fun eating, chatting and playing bacchi ball! I've really enjoyed the outdoors this weekend! The weekend turned out great!