Day 5....

So, as many of you are aware, Shane and I are part of a House of Prayer here in Winnipeg called Sanctuary House of Prayer. We're going to have our first anniversary within the next week and half!

We have been in the process of looking for a permanent location. A local church has been extremely gracious and has allowed us to use their building on Sunday afternoon and evenings for the past year. We'd love to have our own place and be able to expand our hours across the week...with the hopes that over time God would establish a House of Prayer that would be 24/7. A building is the first step in that direction!

So, we have one in the works! If you want to hear more and see a few pictures, head over to our website www.sanctuaryhop.com. Now we're in the process of praying for the funds to come in. We need a specific amount and have a deadline of 45 days. Today is day 5.

If you can help with prayer, jump on board with all of us that are praying over the remaining 40 days. If you have a desire to give a donation towards this building, head over to Sanctuary's website and there are details there. We are trusting that God has lead us this far. What a ride!

Jesus, would you provide the money that is needed for this building! Help us to put our faith in you and not in dollar bills!

Today's the day.....

I've been off work for a day short of 9 weeks and today is my first day going back to work. I'm nervous and a little happy all in one. The nervous side is winning though! I am thinking that somehow I've forgotten everything! Unlikely.

So, please pray for me today if you think of me, and Thursday and Friday too. I'm hoping it goes really well! I've missed babies, moms, coworkers, labor and birth. I hope in my short 4 hours I get a birth today. It's been too long! That would be nice!

Back to the working world outside my living room.....

Thumb gadgets and musical instruments....

I just finished playing 20 minutes of guitar, as ordered by physio today!!!!! That is the most guitar I've played since the middle of February!!! The most in 9 weeks actually!

I've got this fun little thumb gadget that I brought home from physio today to experiment with while playing guitar. See, my thumb is my archenemy lately, as it is a major instigator of my pain on my left hand. And somehow I press on my thumb and bend it awkwardly when I play the guitar. So, we're brainstorming how I can play guitar more without adding to my wrist problem.

This little gadget is kinda like a thimble that covers the top of a thumb. Except that it is this gelly substance that provides some friction to stick to the guitar better. Boy, I'm doing a bad job of explaining this! Anyways, we'll see over a few guitar-playing times if it seems to help!

I'm happy to be on a course to increasing my guitar playing. I'm at 20 minutes as a trial right now.

On the wrist news, I start my back-to-work program this Wednesday! I'm excited to see my coworkers and be in my workplace again, but I'm a little nervous about pain! It would be a lot easier to go back to work if there was a miraculous healing or a significant change in my wrist since February, but unfortunately there hasn't really been. But, on we go!

Becki's Back!!!!

And now we all look smashing!

Becki is my sister's high school friend who has become our family hairdresser, really. She was traveling in New Zealand since October and is finally back! So, she started back at work on Tuesday and between then and today, my mom, my dad, Steph, Shane and I have all gotten haircuts! I think we like our Becki!

We had fun today! Between group haircuts, new colors and a great day with the family celebrating Easter a little late! I remember again and again when we spend the non-winter days out in Mitchell how much I love the country!

Nite!

Ode to my pharmacist....

Our pharmacist is leaving, I am very sad to say,
He was a great guy, and gave us the meds for each new day,

He knew us by name and waved when we passed by,
He walked with us through summer '05 when Shane was relatively high,

Through the changing of meds, the side effects, and trouble,
He groaned with us as the cost became double,

There is something special when someone knows your name,
But now he's gone, oh what a shame!

All the best, Darren!

The power of prayer.....

It is really neat to put on the IHOP webstream which allows me to hear and see the prayer room in Kansas City while I read the news online. I was reading about the tragic shootings at Virgina Tech. As I was reading, the girl that was praying at the mic starting praying specifically for the staff and students at Virgina Tech. That is powerful when someone is praying aloud for the very thing you are reading.

I pray that these horrific events cause the reaction of prayer. It is devastating and awful. It makes me want to pray for our generation all the more. Jesus, save this generation! Encounter them with salvation! Surround those students, families, friends and faculty with your Spirit and your comfort.

New look?

I'm experimenting with a simple, new look. Yvonne made a beautiful layout for me about 3 years ago that I used for a long time. Thanks Yvonne!

Now it was time for a change! So, it is simple, which I like and I'm not very computer-literate, so I just picked one of the templates that blogger has. We'll see how I like it!

Home sweet home! How I love thee!!

Ahhh...sometimes the best part about being away is coming home! I realize I'm more of a homebody than I would have thought. I think I like the idea of traveling more than the actual experience, though it is exciting!

The sister trip Sunday through Tuesday was nice! I only left the hotel once the whole trip, so it was quite relaxing! I got to do what I've been doing the last 7 weeks in the hotel room instead of in my living room. I brought my Bible, journal, some teaching cds and the corresponding notes. So, I studied while Steph was at work!

I always love sister time, especially when it has extra spice with an airplane ride, restaurants, hotels and hot tubs! Lots of fun! Love you Steph! Thanks for bringing me along!

Happy Easter!

This evening Steph and I are leaving on a jet plane for 2 nights in Toronto! I hope it is relaxing, fun and enjoyable! Thank-you to her boss for the opportunity to tag along with Steph to TO! I always enjoy sister time!

Today is a really good day to be thankful! So, Jesus, thanks for:
- salvation, what a gift!
- that God was made human to make our salvation possible!
- that I can have a relationship with the God of the universe! wow!
- that I have a wonderful family and a fabulous husband
- that I have the blessing of two trips now from Steph's work (Puerto Rico last year, Toronto this year!)
- lots of provision and blessing lately
- knowing He's always in control and knows exactly what's going on (thinking about my wrist too)
- that I have a home to live in, food in my fridge, gas in my van and all bills paid each month!
- that we have the honor of living a crazy life of faith and get to spend our time getting to know Him more and praying on behalf of ourselves, others and the city of Winnipeg at large

Thank-You Jesus for all that you've done. Help me to remember each day the things you've done for us! You're a good God that gives good gifts!

Ok.....for the update......

I'm a little encouraged today! We finally have a plan....even though it is a little longer than I anticipated!

I saw the doctor today and we realize that resting my wrist hasn't accomplished a significant change like we had hoped. So, he wants to get my wrist moving again, even with increased pain! He assured me that it is probably going to hurt more! I don't really like the sound of that, as it already hurts at times in every day. But I do like the sound of getting moving again and strengthening these weak forearms and wrists of mine!

So, he told me that he wants me to start doing my dishes again and playing a little guitar again!!!! Yippee!!!! I'm so excited to play a little again! I played one song the other night for the first time in 6 weeks and just sat on the floor crying and realizing more that I really would like to be playing again. God has given me a lot of grace in this time period to watch and encourage others to play without getting the chance to. I'm so glad that there has been grace, as it could have been much harder emotionally! It's not over yet though, and so I pray the grace continues!

Also, I'm really pumped about doing my own dishes! I've felt so bad watching Shane do them alone for the past 3 weeks. I'm generally the washer and he's the dryer. Now he's had to do it alone and that makes me feel bad not to be helping! So, as of tonight, I can do some dishes!

For the plan for the next while, I am to start my strengthening program with physio for the next 2 weeks, without working. Then I will have a meeting with some folks from the hospital to create a back-to-work program. So, it is looking like I will start back at work for 4 hour shifts instead of 12 hour shifts in about 3 weeks. It will probably take about 4 weeks to work up to my regular hours. So, by mid-May I could be back to my usual shifts! Whew! What a process!

But I'm so pleased to have a plan!

Please continue to pray for my wrists/arms as I feel pain a bunch of each day! I still want total and complete healing, without increased pain with movement!

He will complete the good work that He has started in me!

Today I find out more information about my wrist......such as if I'm returning to work or what we're going to do. I see the doc this afternoon.....

The KC trip was great! I didn't blog about it because the other ladies did a fine job of doing that for me! Good, practical information to take home and a really fun bonding time with the girls!

Had a classroom day related to work yesterday. Enjoyed using my brain like that again! The content was a little dry but I enjoyed the learning!

In the process of being off work and awaiting healing for my wrist, I'm learning some things about my heart. Not easy, but good. Maybe I'll talk on that another time.

It's Wednesday which means I have the apartment to myself this morning. So, I must go and make the most of it!

We're on our way!

The van is clean!
The bags are packed!
Just awaiting the carload of girls!

Have a great weekend!

Getting excited!!!!

I know it's only Wednesday and we're only leaving Friday.....but I'm already packed as much as I can be until we are about to leave!

I'm looking forward to a bunch of things about our little weekend get-a-way! I like a road trip once in a while! I'm happy to be spending time with the girls! I'm looking forward to seeing KC friends, Joyska, Mary Jean and Tony, and giving them all big hugs! I'm looking forward spending a bunch of time in the prayer room, just as part of the praying people in the seats, as that isn't usually the norm in our prayer room! We put everyone we can to use! I'm getting really excited about visiting the restaurants that I love and don't get up in Canada!!

So, the excitement is building!

Ahhhh.........breathing a little deeper.....

After almost 4 weeks off work, I'm getting into the groove of my newest routine, or at times, lack there of. And I'm really enjoying it.

I was speaking to someone this weekend about my wrist and time off and the person commented that she would be pulling her hair out by now. I am definitely not feeling that way! I am really taking this time as a blessing.

I don't remember the last time in our lives that we had this many evenings relaxing at home. It is good to learn how to sit without multitasking. I'm such a multitasker that I have found it hard at times to just sit or just pray without other things going on. But I find myself getting more comfortable with a slower pace.

I'm happy having an evening at home without having to fill it with a plan. I'm happy that it is light outside a little longer in the evenings. I'm blessed to have my husband around so very much. I'm blessed that I get to read the Bible, pray, journal and listen to teaching cds all afternoon if I want to right now. I know that this won't last forever and I'm cherishing these next 2 weeks and the last 4.

I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like it's making a difference deep down inside. It is a definite change of pace for me, and I like it. It's like a token of peace and contentment. Definitely not every moment. But more often then usual. And I like that.

The good, the bad and the ugly.....

And the latest in my life....

Well, things are always happening, aren't they?

I leave for Kansas City next Friday with some ladies! I'm really looking forward to the trip! It's time for me to visit that place again! I'm going to eat some yummy food and soak in another prayer room! I love it!

Then, on April 8th, I'm off to Toronto for 2 nights with my sister! I'm experiencing the perks of her job! How nice is that! We are going to enjoy a nice sister trip together, on her company! They rock! And I'm looking forward to an airplane ride again! They paid for my last one....to Puerto Rico in January 2006!

And for the not so good news, I have to take more time off work for my wrist. The fact that my wrist isn't better is the bad news. I'm feeling bad that I'm not working, but also don't at the same time because I'm just following the doctor's orders. I kinda miss work already, but I also love my life at home, with relationships, Sanctuary, God, etc. I'm not climbing the walls or anything after 3 weeks at home already! I trust that my arm and wrist will get better with time! So, 3 more weeks of no work for me. I was really shocked to hear that number!

On a positive note, I'm going to rest my arm and, in my brain, think of these weeks as a blessed holiday (without doing much with my left arm). I will never have this amount of time off with holiday time. So, I will use my time wisely. And enjoy it. The doc said to me as I was leaving the office a little shocked at the time frame he prescribed, "Go and enjoy your life!".

And so I shall.

Birthday Bash Completed.

Ahhhh...it is finished. All the planning, calling, prepping, slide show-making, thinking, secret-keeping. Done!

We threw my mom a surprise 50th birthday party today, almost 1 month after her actual birthday. It was a hit. Thinking back on who was there.....at least 51 people! And many no-shows.

She loved it. She felt affirmed and honored. She cried a few times...happy tears. She was surprised. She was the girl of the day and the queen of the party!

And I'm going to sleep! Mom's 50th birthday bash complete.

And the latest......

Yesterday was full of appointments between Shane and I. And here are the latest pieces of information on the wrist and the shoulder.

Shane - is to keep taking the meds for inflammation and pain control, keep using the sling at times during the day, and to refrain from activities such as cooking, vacuuming, hockey, shoveling, lifting anything overhead, etc for 2 weeks!!!! He's still in pain (but a little less) and the shoulder is still quite inflamed and swollen. He's in pretty good spirits nonetheless!

Me - I'm to take another week off work to rest my wrist and keep using the tensor in the day and the splint at night. I'm now on an oral anti-inflammatory (and I'm not a fan of taking meds!). No work to me means no guitar either so that puts a hold on that fun area of my life for the time being. I'm willing though....anything to help the process! The wrist is swollen says the doc and some friends and family, though it has been hard for me to see.

So that's us right now. Feeling ok about it. Not too discouraged if you're wondering. Doesn't feel like a big demonic attack. Just another storm we will encounter in our lives. I'm not enjoying that my wrist problem is such a long storm, but I am still determined to build well!

Have a beautiful day!

Prayer request......

I've got a prayer request for each one of you!

It's about our drug plan coverage. There is quite the pharmacy bill in our home each month (Shane's drug is especially expensive). We are encountering a new problem this year since we had to change over to the hospital's benefit plan in September. The new drug plan year starts in January. And we are passed our maximum and it's only the beginning of March! Therefore, they will not cover any more medications until next January (2008!).

March also marks the last month for the Pharmacare year and amazingly we haven't hit our deductible. Had we, our pharmacist could give us the next 3 months of medications without us having to pay. Last year we definitely hit it, somehow we didn't this year (the deductible was higher this year).

So, I'm feeling a little desperate and really asking for your prayers for provision, specifically in the area of medication money this time. Things are already tight and now to add much more of the budget into meds is really stressful.

Please pray! Thanks!

Two peas in a pod????

Nope, two injured in a pod.

The sound of tendinitis resounds in this apartment lately. Shane's had wicked shoulder pain since waking on Thursday morning. The doctor at the walk-in yesterday said it was a form of tendinitis. He's in a lot more pain that I am in right now.

So, between my wrist in a brace or splint and Shane's shoulder in a sling, we are two injured in a pod. Charge on!

Is it morning yet???

I awoke last night hearing Shane's voice talking with someone. I could tell that he had answered the telephone. It was really quite dark in the room and down the hallway, making me think it was still nighttime. But, if someone was calling, perhaps it was morning already. I turned to my clock. 2:35am or so. Ok...that's not morning!

I made my way down the hallway. It was confirmed. Shane was on the phone.

So, who was calling our place at 2:30 in the morning?????

My sister!!! Calling from Las Vegas!!!! Funny thing was, she thought it was 10:30pm Manitoba time but it was really 2:30am!!!

It was so nice to hear from her! It sometimes reminds you how dear someone is to you when they are not 10 minutes away! Though I see her 3-4 days out of a week, when she's not around the other 3- 4, I feel it! Ahhhh....sisters are a wonderful thing! Love you Steph!