Thursday, December 30, 2010

Open Eyes

Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes--
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

--Elizabeth Browning

God grant me the desire for wisdom so that He may be the center of my existence.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Photos From My Brief Holiday In Endeavour (I Love My Post Titles, Don't You?! ;-))


Back row: Naomi, Lydia, Jesse, Hannah, Ellie
Middle row: Zeke, Dad, Mom, (on Mom's lap) Sara, Martha
Bottom row: Uriah, Cilla, Ruth


Top: Sara
2nd Row: Ruth, Uriah, Cilla
3rd Row: Zeke, Martha, Naomi, Ellie
Bottom: Jesse, Dad, Mom, Lydia, Hannah


Sara (with an extra body??!) Zeke (without his head, as usual!), Ruth (isn't she sweet?) and Uriah (who adores my boyfriend... I love it. :-))



My beautiful friend, Lindsey... she has always been such an encouragement to me and everyone she comes in contact with. :hugs:

What can I say but... smiles. ;-)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Rivers

The following is not complete in any way. If you have any thoughts to add to this, I welcome them. :-)



Have you ever felt a need to prove something about yourself? Have you ever felt a need to assure to others that you're kind and pleasant? That you're trustworthy? What about spirituality? Have you ever felt a need to defend your relationship with God?

I believe that there is a certain place for proving yourself. In order for people to trust you, you must show them that you are worthy of it. Our reputation is important and something to not be taken lightly. There is another side, however and I have been finding it my entire life.

It is when my reputation takes place above my happiness and peace. When my questions and defensive thoughts take over my mind and effect my joy. The past few weeks have found me slowly wandering. My fingers want to write Bible verses all the day long and post long winded opinions about God and spirituality and how people's lives could be greatly bettered by finding Him. (Btw, I would not just be talking about non-Christians but everyone alike... our entire lives are effected by our faith and understanding of Him.) But I have felt this before, knew what it was so I resisted the urge. I knew I needed to get my focus back on God before I wrote anything. There is nothing I detest more than a stifling hypocritical pride and arrogance.

I don't have many wise words to say about this mindset but I wanted to share a few things about my thoughts lately because I feel there is such a need for true fellowship with God. It hurts my heart when I see the burdened hearts that could be lightened.

There is no need to prove anything to anyone. No. I don't have to prove how things are going with me and God. Neither do you. Yes, question me... yourself... others. Welcome the questions; they are necessary for growth. But it is what we do with the questions that matters. What should happen is the questions turn us back towards God.

I realized some things over the past weeks: what matters is right now. Is my heart seeking fellowship with God at this very moment in time? If I am in fellowship with God right now, who am I to worry about other opinions? My worries distract me and deprive me of the joy I have in God. That is when I become ineffective.

Faith and love are more than something I can talk about. I can embody them. They can be synonymous with my existence. But it must start with my fellowship... my prayers... my thoughts. When it begins there, my reputation will take care of itself. Actually, everything else falls into place. There are consequences for every action and every thought, good or evil. When I maintain my fellowship with God every day, the consequences are endless love and joy. :-)

It is so easy to become sidetracked from the Truth. Even with good things, like questioning my heart for Truth. But at the same time, how simple and easy it is to fall back into fellowship with God and abide in His love and Truth.

Have you ever been around someone who left you very depressed and anxious? I was recently around someone who left me literally gasping for comfort and peace. This person did not mean to be this way. In fact, this person is searching desperately for the very things that I found myself reaching for. Pain simply flowed from this heart like a river.

It made me realize that there is another river. Joy, peace, happiness. They are all just as contagious as fear and despair and they are all desperately needed in this world. What is your river made of? It can be transformed. But don't try to do it. God has marvelous transforming powers. All He wants from you right now is your heart to be open and willing. Your river... your reputation is already changed and changing other lives.

May joy be yours today. :-) Do things unto God.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Life's Goodness

 "Razor-sharp, serrated teeth that inject venom for pre-digestion, prefers ambush attack, and crushing its victims..."

This morning I watched "How To Train Your Dragon" at the Carlyle Theatre. It's an old story with a lot of new twists and some very entertaining dialog. Have any of you ever seen it? I really enjoyed myself. It's a clean story with action, sweetness, humor and phenomenal animation. :-) The reason the movie was shown today was because the elementary school brought all of their kids in for a free movie (right before the holidays). It was interesting to listen to all of the kids chattering before the movie began. Then, as they got into the story, silence pervaded the Hall. Well, mostly silence. :-) Occasionally, laughter and some whispering... but for the amount of children (well over a hundred, I believe), they did pretty well. 

Sidenote: Scottish Vikings in horned helmets (ahem!) make me giggle.

The good thing about the past two weeks is that I have been sick (therefore, able to spend time working on Christmas projects) and I've been keeping very busy.... thus keeping my mind busy. This is a good thing. :-) I got all of my gifts wrapped yesterday evening and have them packed in a box, ready to go. Going to enjoy celebrating Christmas in Saskatoon with friends and loved ones! Good food. Good company. Good conversations. 

Yesterday, I went to work. I had missed some days due to my thought processes of, "don't want to go work with a cold"... still learning stuff about commitments and what ways I can be the most helpful, etc. :-) Anyways, they had all the spaces for gel icing cakes filled up, so Donna put me to work making Blizzard Cakes. I think I made 14 or 16. I can't remember if I filled all the pans twice or not. I love working with the flavors. Somehow, when I am off sugar, my sweet tooth gets satisfied with simply smelling the ice-cream and chocolate and caramel... I made Strawberry CheeseQuake, Oreo, Reeses Pieces, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Cookie Dough and Pecan Cluster.... and let me see. :thinks: Maybe that's all. Hm. 2 each, excepting the Oreo and Pecan Cluster.. so that means I made 16. Most of them ended up in the back freezer, awaiting their turn in the display freezer. My favorite cake to make is the Pecan Cluster. I have absolutely no idea how it tastes but it looks so pretty when I'm finished making it. ;-) I make swirly cones of icing on the top, sprinkle pecans over, then drizzle caramel and chocolate. Lol... sometimes customers can say the funniest things. I was just getting ready to drizzle on the caramel and I heard a voice behind me: "You're gonna make a mistake." I looked up and this old man was grinning at me from over by the coffee machine. ;-) ????

A storm blew in yesterday afternoon... rather like a blizzard and really nasty for awhile there. I am glad I didn't have to walk in it. People are so kind. Donna picked me up and Dianne drove me home. Actually, three people offered me rides home! :-) I am so thankful for the love people bestow upon me. :-) :-) It makes my heart glow. 

This afternoon? What did I do this afternoon... oh yes. After I watched the movie in the morning with Dianne (Jesse's mom), she drove me home and we sat in Michele's kitchen with Michele and had a long conversation about all things. After Dianne left, I sent Michele a song (Silver Spear) so she could jam with Gillian when we're in Saskatoon. Then, I cleaned the bathroom, cleaned up/tidied the kitchen and vacuumed. It feels soo good to get caught up on the cleaning. :-) 

So, that's an update on my little, sweet-filled life. :-) This is a happy post. :-) I am feeling rather that way these days. ;-) God bless you all. 

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Quotes

I was looking up quotes again this morning and found some that made me think. I love being made to think. :-) May these cause you to wonder this day.

Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make love known? -- William Shakespeare

The beginning of love is to let those who love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them. -- Thomas Merton


All your western theologies, the whole mythology of them, are based on the concept of God being a senile delinquent. -- Tennessee Williams [I find misconceptions of God are horrible and inevitable. We simply cannot comprehend or completely understand God or even the concept of God, therefore we create our own ideas about Him. But, as prone to error we humans are, I believe that the Bible gave us some clues.... what is the greatest commandment and the second greatest commandment? Love... loving God; loving people.]

If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it? -- Steven Wright [I was thinking Ozzie might be brilliant in this experiment.]

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is  people who have come alive. -- Howard Thurman 

True holiness consists in doing God's will with a smile. -- Mother Teresa

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Is it our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make the manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -- Marianne Williamson 

Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting for centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing. -- G. M. Trevelyan

I still have this cold. But I am coughing less this morning, which was a big blessing. I fell asleep quickly last night and woke up around 8:30, rarin' to go. :-) I will be so glad to finish up all my projects and get them packaged up. :-) I love projects and I love finishing them, too. Hehe. Cheers, my friends. May God show a little of Himself to you today and may you find great joy in Him.

Research the truly matters:
The following link made me chuckle... and as I am a great fan of cookie dough, it also made my day.
http://allrecipes.com/Cook/18712315/BlogEntry.aspx?postid=210678

Thursday, December 16, 2010


#5: God

I am thankful that I do not walk life's path alone and without purpose. I am thankful there is Someone that is bigger than my comprehension. I am thankful God does not allow me to use Him as a crutch (all the time... lol). I am thankful that He has healed me. I am thankful God wants me to question and seek and grow. I am thankful that He does not force us to believe in Him. I am thankful for His love. 


#4: Jesse

I am thankful for this man and all the joy that surrounds us. God is good. :-) Jesse's enjoying his trip, btw. I'm glad he's enjoying his trip. I'm also glad I'll be seeing him sometime around the 23rd. :-)
#3: Health

I am thankful to feel alive and to be able to breathe. I am thankful I am able to think and make plans and trust in God. I am thankful for when I am sick and when I am well. I am thankful that I am able to walk without pain. I am thankful that my nose isn't running. Only dripping. :-)

 Each step in my path has been a reason for a reason.
#2: Music

Music is emotion. I love listening and getting caught in it. I love playing and getting caught up in it. I love teaching others to get caught up in it. :-) Music is a gift that I am always grateful for.


Good morning, dear people. May your day be joyful... And if not joyful, then happy.... And if not happy, then for Heaven's sake, at least try learn something from your discomfort. :-) :-) 

Here is a challenge: think of five things today that you are truly grateful for. 

Here is my first: I am thankful for modern communication. Letters, the internet, telephones, etc. 


Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Learning


This girl has questions but she's learning that it's ok to not know everything. ;-)

The other day, two very learned, wise men took the time to have a conversation with me. They were not trying to teach me anything. They were simply enjoying talking about literature, life, people and the wisdom of their years. There is something timeless in discussing truth. I love asking questions and listening to the answers. There is something peaceful about sitting and listening to words. There is something beautiful in being able to think and pray and search... feeling no sense of criticism for not knowing the answer (and not knowing if I ever will).

I learned something. :-) It was about personality types. What we are, how we react to others... and that just because one may be introverted and another extroverted does not mean they do not need each other. If only I had understood sooner that human beings are... just that. They all hurt and bleed like I do. They all experience joy, though some considerably less than others. They all need love. Had I realized this at the age of 17, I would have saved myself a lot of grief.

But how does one learn? Experience, having an open heart to the truths, being willing to give up self for the other person... because me isn't that important. I am so thankful, though. I am glad to have had that conversation. I am glad to be walking this path. I am glad for the experiences and the uncertainties. I am glad for the joy and the sorrow. I am glad to discover things about myself and life... even if it is painful. The truth does set us free. Before we can be honest with others, we must be honest with ourselves and God. The most courage I need is for facing myself.

Well, it is time for me to sleep, so I will close this up and head off to dreamland. :-) Before I do, however, I wanted to say that I am still most thankful for love. I am thankful to be loved. By God, by man. Love is so powerful. It gives me wings and a stout heart. It is a good thing. :-)

Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

A wish

It is easy to be pleasant when life flows by like a song
but the man worth while is the one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong
For the test of the heart is trouble, and it always comes with the years, 
and the smile that worth the praises of earth is the smile that shines through the tears.
(Irish saying) 

I was just thinking this afternoon about how much complaining comes from my lips. May I bring joy into the world today, somehow. 

Monday, December 13, 2010

Quotes

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. -- 1 Tim. 4:4


Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty. -- Anne Herbert

No one gossips about people's secret virtues. --Bertrand Arthur William Russell

The puritan's idea of hell is a place where everybody has to mind their own business. -- Wendell Phillips

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance... -- Galatians 5:22

Freedom has it's life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from it's life-giving roots, it will wither and die. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower

For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. -- 2 Peter 2:19b

Piglet sidled up from Pooh behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you." -- A.A. Milne

I felt it shelter to speak to you. -- Emily Dickinson

I know every book of mine by it's smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things. -- George Robert Gissing

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. -- Col. 3:23

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction. -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

We'll Meet Again -- Theatre Production

You may remember me writing about the first theatre production I was in. It was a WW2 musical review entitled, "We'll Meet Again". I believe Marian W. took most of these pictures, so I would like to thank her. Also, Marilyn Carter deserves some recognition because she burned the disk for me and made it possible for me to post these pictures on the internet. Thank you. :-)


Lori Brown is an amazing pianist. I love watching and listening to her play.


Getting ready to fall asleep.


At the end of the ladies' grand entrance.


Someone spilled liquid on the floor and the proprietor demanded it be cleaned up. But he decided to have some fun with the boys first. 



Waiting for the sailor....


Looking very innocent. I can't remember the occasion but he seemed to pull it off. :-)


Left?? Which left??! :-P (Never fails that my brain shuts down and I can't ever remember which is which. Lol!)



The Aspidistra number, which the audience always seemed to appreciate.




Being sassy. This picture makes me chuckle.




The cast


The sailor and yours truly. 


You'll see cast members in the audience if you look hard enough. :-) At the end of the show, we walked up the aisles, singing "We'll Meet Again". People would reach out and shake our hands as we walked by. 

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Pictures -- A Cornerstone Christmas Carol (Theatre Production)

I am not sure who took these pictures but I would like to thank the Carters for taking some of them... also, thanks to Marilyn Carter for burning the disk for me. She made it possible for me to share these on the internet. :-)


Esmeralda Scrooge .. "That'll be $50.03."


Esmeralda's long suffering employee, Jack.


"It's an old time Christmas..."



"It's my room, my life and my baseball bat."




Young Esmeralda and The Jilted Boyfriend.


The homeless people managed to look as pathetic as necessary.


"Who are they calling a moldy tart?!"


Craig's vocal skills never ceased to amaze us.


Bob Marley and the Choir


"Ah am the Ghost of Christmas Present!"

Friday, December 10, 2010

Odds and Ends

Apparently, you can't eat six saltines in one minute. I've never timed myself but I tend to put them away pretty quickly. ;-) Hmm. I do love them. That and the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack (Danny Elfman), which I am currently listening to via http://listen.grooveshark.com/ (thank you once again, Jenni). I think the music actually makes me love the movie as much as I do! It's amazing... The Alice Theme especially sends shivers down my spine.

My apologies for the lack of blog posts in the recent days. After the play, it's been a mixture of spending time with my man, teaching, projects for the upcoming holiday season...etc, etc. This evening, I go to the theatre to help with the movie. I'm never bored. :-) I posted via FB yesterday how much fun it is to be happy. It is indeed. :-)


Speaking of the play, each night went well, though Sunday was our most brilliant performance (if I do say so myself!). I was so pleasantly surprised with how well it did go. The humor was laughable. The emotional scenes were emotional. The story was made into a story (by us! Imagine that!). :-) One funny moment happened to me personally. It happened while we were doing the last scene. We had just finished singing "A pig went out to dig..." and suddenly, my hair felt off centre. I was a little horrified to discover that the 'tail' of my bun was loose and the rest of my hair was threatening to follow suit. Lol! Subtly (??) I managed to correct the problem and all was well though until we did the company bow, I was moving gingerly. :-)



And my man is in Athens. Yes, Athens, Greece. [Jesse: problem fixed! ;-)] He is there to see his sister. Two weeks can't go by fast enough back here but I think it's a wonderful thing for him to be able to go on this trip. The experience gained by traveling is always something one cannot get any other way. And when he comes back... we're hoping it will work to go visit the family and celebrate Martha's and Hannah's birthdays. Jesse will finally get to taste homemade ice-cream.

Well, as you can tell, I did not get this finished before going to the theatre. :-) I had a lovely evening at the Waldner's, where I devoured (homegrown) chicken and wonderful potatoes among other things. If you ever want to taste a good meal, hope that you'll get invited there. No kidding. Anyways, Megamind was also splendiferous. I really enjoyed it, as was evidenced by my very loud laughter. I forgot I was in the theatre. :-P But it was a good evening, despite this fact. :-)

I am needing to hit the hay sooner than later, so I think I'll sign off and try to get some rest in before tomorrow arrives.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

An Old Celtic Blessing

May the blessing of light be on you --
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire. 


May God bless you one and all, my dear readers.