With 3 little people in our house for Christmas right now, some pretty funny things have been said/asked and I want to record them here so I don't forget! T, R, and E are my two nieces and 1 nephew respectively:
R said to her dad, rather wistfully: When can I be bald like Papa?
(We all burst out laughing. Then at supper time, the conversations re. age came up)
T: Mommy, how old are you?
Her mom: 26
T: That's old!!
R: (not hearing correctly)...Bald??? Only Papa can be bald! Not Mama.... :) :)
(Then it turned to me...)
T: Aunty Dani, how old are you?
Me: How old do you THINK I am?
T: 34!!!!
Me: Whaaat?? I'm 20!
T: You're much older than that!! (she could not believe I was 34!)
(Not too sure yet whether to take that as an insult or as a compliment!) :)
Then Mom, Dad, T and I were driving....
T: Why are the stars so tiny?
Mom: Because they're so far away!
T: So we can only see them in a rocket ship?
Mom: Yep.
T: Is it true that you float in rocket ships? (Keep in mind she just turned 5!)
Mom: Yep!
T: Aunty Dani, why don't we float here?
Me: Because of gravity!
T: What's gravity?
(So Dad and I explained it in great detail, yet trying to keep it simple. And after about 5 minutes of explanation...)
T: (with a little sigh)...I just don't get it. :)
Then T and R were playing school today and T (being the teacher) was bossing R around a tad too much, so I intervened and said to not be so bossy, to which she promptly said:
"You're going to be a teacher....that means you get to be bossy all the time!!" :) :)
And little E. He just melts my heart. If you sign "I love you", he'll sign it back! He says "Wooooowwww!" to just about anything that delights him! He is the snuggliest little boy ever as well :)
That's all I can think of at the moment! Sometimes the cuteness factor is just way too much :)
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Friday, 23 November 2012
The Best of Friends - Part 2 :)
In case you missed Part 1, here it is: http://lemonsandroses12.blogspot.ca/2012/07/the-best-of-friends.html
Part 1 was more how Britt and I became friends and why we are as good of friends as we really are! Since school has started we have both been extremely busy - her even more so! She is constantly my inspiration :) Not only does she have more than a full course load, she teaches two nights a week out of town, 2-3 nights a week in town, right now she is involved in rehearsals for a show which I am VERY excited to see, she teaches Zumba, she manages to stay on top of school work AND still be a fabulous friend! (By the way, I'm sure I've forgotten some things she does!) I'm extremely proud of her :)
While we haven't found as much time as we would've liked to hang out, we come up with creative ways nonetheless! Passing messages and miscellaneous objects through her boyfriend (who is a great courier!), smiling and saying hi as we pass each other 3x a week outside our mutual classroom, having great conversations, laughs and smiles through texts and Facebook messages (I love technology for that reason!)
Some recent things she has taught me...
1. My decisions are not entirely who I am. Kinda hard to explain but recent decisions and events in my life, sometimes made me feel like a personal failure but she helped me to see otherwise.
2. Even though we are not constantly communicating (unlike the awesome chats over the summer), she is still there for me. Always. And I am still there for her. Always.
3. She is great at reminding me why I have done certain things or why I should do certain things.
4. As always, she still sees the good in everyone and everything :) I'm still learning that from her!
So, Spotty, even though we don't see each other as much as before, the friendship is still there and going strong. I would say it has even grown stronger since the summer :) Love you!
Part 1 was more how Britt and I became friends and why we are as good of friends as we really are! Since school has started we have both been extremely busy - her even more so! She is constantly my inspiration :) Not only does she have more than a full course load, she teaches two nights a week out of town, 2-3 nights a week in town, right now she is involved in rehearsals for a show which I am VERY excited to see, she teaches Zumba, she manages to stay on top of school work AND still be a fabulous friend! (By the way, I'm sure I've forgotten some things she does!) I'm extremely proud of her :)
While we haven't found as much time as we would've liked to hang out, we come up with creative ways nonetheless! Passing messages and miscellaneous objects through her boyfriend (who is a great courier!), smiling and saying hi as we pass each other 3x a week outside our mutual classroom, having great conversations, laughs and smiles through texts and Facebook messages (I love technology for that reason!)
Some recent things she has taught me...
1. My decisions are not entirely who I am. Kinda hard to explain but recent decisions and events in my life, sometimes made me feel like a personal failure but she helped me to see otherwise.
2. Even though we are not constantly communicating (unlike the awesome chats over the summer), she is still there for me. Always. And I am still there for her. Always.
3. She is great at reminding me why I have done certain things or why I should do certain things.
4. As always, she still sees the good in everyone and everything :) I'm still learning that from her!
So, Spotty, even though we don't see each other as much as before, the friendship is still there and going strong. I would say it has even grown stronger since the summer :) Love you!
"Uphill"
Most of the time we feel that we are going 'uphill' all the time, right? Different things slow us down - disappointments, regrets, sorrows, work, sometimes even school. Both of my parents used to tell me the old line, "Back when I was in school, I had to walk uphill both ways!!" And when I eventually saw the route they had to take, I believed them and felt guilty of my complaining ;) Anyways...recently in one of my classes we have been studying both the works of Dante and Christina Rossetti (brother and sister). The following is written in such a way that it is very easy to read and carries a comforting lilt to it. Some have places spiritual emphasis on it, others more metaphorical. My interpretation of it was to substitute the word 'life' instead of 'road' and then the poem seeks to assure us that no matter how long and hard the road may be, there are things along the way that will strengthen us, sustain us and help us carry on! The love and support of family and friends, enjoying the simple things in life, taking time out etc. Enjoy - and as always let me know your thoughts!
"Uphill" - written in 1861 by Christina Rossetti
"Uphill" - written in 1861 by Christina Rossetti
- Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
- Yes, to the very end.
- Will the day's journey take the whole long day?
- From morn to night, my friend.
- But is there for the night a resting-place?
- A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
- May not the darkness hide it from my face?
- You cannot miss that inn.
- Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
- Those who have gone before.
- Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
- They will not keep you standing at that door.
- Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
- Of labour you shall find the sum.
- Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
- Yea, beds for all who come.
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
The Buried Life
I could not believe that the last post I did was in September...wow! Nothing exciting is really happening. The life of a student is pretty ordinary :) BUT we did study the following poem in one of my classes and it was one of those pieces that I just seemed to connect with and thus I really liked it. It's called "The Buried Life" written by Matthew Arnold, in 1852:
Light flows our war of mocking words, and yet,
Behold, with tears mine eyes are wet!
I feel a nameless sadness o'er me roll.
Yes, yes, we know that we can jest,
We know, we know that we can smile!
But there's a something in this breast,
To which thy light words bring no rest,
And thy gay smiles no anodyne.
Give me thy hand, and hush awhile,
And turn those limpid eyes on mine, 10
And let me read there, love! thy inmost soul.
Behold, with tears mine eyes are wet!
I feel a nameless sadness o'er me roll.
Yes, yes, we know that we can jest,
We know, we know that we can smile!
But there's a something in this breast,
To which thy light words bring no rest,
And thy gay smiles no anodyne.
Give me thy hand, and hush awhile,
And turn those limpid eyes on mine, 10
And let me read there, love! thy inmost soul.
Alas! is even love too weak
To unlock the heart, and let it speak?
Are even lovers powerless to reveal
To one another what indeed they feel?
I knew the mass of men conceal'd
Their thoughts, for fear that if reveal'd
They would by other men be met
With blank indifference, or with blame reproved;
I knew they lived and moved 20
Trick'd in disguises, alien to the rest
Of men, and alien to themselves--and yet
The same heart beats in every human breast!
To unlock the heart, and let it speak?
Are even lovers powerless to reveal
To one another what indeed they feel?
I knew the mass of men conceal'd
Their thoughts, for fear that if reveal'd
They would by other men be met
With blank indifference, or with blame reproved;
I knew they lived and moved 20
Trick'd in disguises, alien to the rest
Of men, and alien to themselves--and yet
The same heart beats in every human breast!
But we, my love!--doth a like spell benumb
Our hearts, our voices?--must we too be dumb?
Our hearts, our voices?--must we too be dumb?
Ah! well for us, if even we,
Even for a moment, can get free
Our heart, and have our lips unchain'd;
For that which seals them hath been deep-ordain'd!
Even for a moment, can get free
Our heart, and have our lips unchain'd;
For that which seals them hath been deep-ordain'd!
Fate, which foresaw 30
How frivolous a baby man would be--
By what distractions he would be possess'd,
How he would pour himself in every strife,
And well-nigh change his own identity--
That it might keep from his capricious play
His genuine self, and force him to obey
Even in his own despite his being's law,
Bade through the deep recesses of our breast
The unregarded river of our life
Pursue with indiscernible flow its way; 40
And that we should not see
The buried stream, and seem to be
Eddying at large in blind uncertainty,
Though driving on with it eternally.
How frivolous a baby man would be--
By what distractions he would be possess'd,
How he would pour himself in every strife,
And well-nigh change his own identity--
That it might keep from his capricious play
His genuine self, and force him to obey
Even in his own despite his being's law,
Bade through the deep recesses of our breast
The unregarded river of our life
Pursue with indiscernible flow its way; 40
And that we should not see
The buried stream, and seem to be
Eddying at large in blind uncertainty,
Though driving on with it eternally.
But often, in the world's most crowded streets,
But often, in the din of strife,
There rises an unspeakable desire
After the knowledge of our buried life;
A thirst to spend our fire and restless force
In tracking out our true, original course; 50
A longing to inquire
Into the mystery of this heart which beats
So wild, so deep in us--to know
Whence our lives come and where they go.
And many a man in his own breast then delves,
But deep enough, alas! none ever mines.
And we have been on many thousand lines,
And we have shown, on each, spirit and power;
But hardly have we, for one little hour,
Been on our own line, have we been ourselves-- 60
Hardly had skill to utter one of all
The nameless feelings that course through our breast,
But they course on for ever unexpress'd.
And long we try in vain to speak and act
Our hidden self, and what we say and do
Is eloquent, is well--but 'tis not true!
And then we will no more be rack'd
With inward striving, and demand
Of all the thousand nothings of the hour
Their stupefying power; 70
Ah yes, and they benumb us at our call!
Yet still, from time to time, vague and forlorn,
From the soul's subterranean depth upborne
As from an infinitely distant land,
Come airs, and floating echoes, and convey
A melancholy into all our day.
But often, in the din of strife,
There rises an unspeakable desire
After the knowledge of our buried life;
A thirst to spend our fire and restless force
In tracking out our true, original course; 50
A longing to inquire
Into the mystery of this heart which beats
So wild, so deep in us--to know
Whence our lives come and where they go.
And many a man in his own breast then delves,
But deep enough, alas! none ever mines.
And we have been on many thousand lines,
And we have shown, on each, spirit and power;
But hardly have we, for one little hour,
Been on our own line, have we been ourselves-- 60
Hardly had skill to utter one of all
The nameless feelings that course through our breast,
But they course on for ever unexpress'd.
And long we try in vain to speak and act
Our hidden self, and what we say and do
Is eloquent, is well--but 'tis not true!
And then we will no more be rack'd
With inward striving, and demand
Of all the thousand nothings of the hour
Their stupefying power; 70
Ah yes, and they benumb us at our call!
Yet still, from time to time, vague and forlorn,
From the soul's subterranean depth upborne
As from an infinitely distant land,
Come airs, and floating echoes, and convey
A melancholy into all our day.
Only--but this is rare--
When a beloved hand is laid in ours,
When, jaded with the rush and glare
Of the interminable hours, 80
Our eyes can in another's eyes read clear,
When our world-deafen'd ear
Is by the tones of a loved voice caress'd--
A bolt is shot back somewhere in our breast,
And a lost pulse of feeling stirs again.
The eye sinks inward, and the heart lies plain,
And what we mean, we say, and what we would, we know.
A man becomes aware of his life's flow,
And hears its winding murmur; and he sees
The meadows where it glides, the sun, the breeze. 90
When a beloved hand is laid in ours,
When, jaded with the rush and glare
Of the interminable hours, 80
Our eyes can in another's eyes read clear,
When our world-deafen'd ear
Is by the tones of a loved voice caress'd--
A bolt is shot back somewhere in our breast,
And a lost pulse of feeling stirs again.
The eye sinks inward, and the heart lies plain,
And what we mean, we say, and what we would, we know.
A man becomes aware of his life's flow,
And hears its winding murmur; and he sees
The meadows where it glides, the sun, the breeze. 90
And there arrives a lull in the hot race
Wherein he doth for ever chase
That flying and elusive shadow, rest.
An air of coolness plays upon his face,
And an unwonted calm pervades his breast.
And then he thinks he knows
The hills where his life rose,
And the sea where it goes.
Wherein he doth for ever chase
That flying and elusive shadow, rest.
An air of coolness plays upon his face,
And an unwonted calm pervades his breast.
And then he thinks he knows
The hills where his life rose,
And the sea where it goes.
Thoughts? :)
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
S'more Cupcakes :)
Even the title sounds good :) I saw a picture of this online somewhere, Googled the recipe and decided to make them! It is relatively easy, but sorta finnicky, extremely good but sorta messy! But definitely worth it :)
Below are a few pictures of the process and at the end I will leave the links to the recipes!
1. Graham Crumb Crust....
2. Regular chocolate cake mix....
3. Melted Dairy Milk chocolate and then placed in fridge to harden. Mmmmm....
4. Marshmallow Icing and remaining chocolate...
5. Little marshmallows broiled for 10 seconds and a graham cracker stuck on top!
6. TA-DA!!
7. All ready to be given out...although I did keep some :)
Here is the link for the recipe (just substitute Hershey for Dairy Milk...in my opinion, FAR better!)
http://cookiesandcups.com/smores-cupcakes/
And the recipe for the icing....(it's right at the bottom of the page after the other cake recipe!)
http://cookiesandcups.com/cake-batter-blondie/
Enjoy!!
Below are a few pictures of the process and at the end I will leave the links to the recipes!
1. Graham Crumb Crust....
Here is the link for the recipe (just substitute Hershey for Dairy Milk...in my opinion, FAR better!)
http://cookiesandcups.com/smores-cupcakes/
And the recipe for the icing....(it's right at the bottom of the page after the other cake recipe!)
http://cookiesandcups.com/cake-batter-blondie/
Enjoy!!
Friday, 21 September 2012
Disturb Us...
Disturb us, Lord when
We are too pleased with ourselves
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
We are too pleased with ourselves
When our dreams have come true
Because we dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push back the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
-Sir Francis Drake, 1577-
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wilder seas
Where storms will show Your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push back the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
-Sir Francis Drake, 1577-
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
The Past, Present & Future
Ahhh yes. The complicated relationship between these three aspects of one's life has been on my mind recently. Then in one of my English courses we are studying an epic poem, written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, entitled Aurora Leigh. In the opening there is a simply lovely stanza, written beatifully, from a woman to a man:
"As when you paint your portrait for a friend,
Who keeps it in a drawer and looks at it
Long after he has ceased to love you, just
To hold together what he was and is."
To hold together what you were and are. That is the whole point of the past, is it not? To realize who you were then and who you are now. It is complicated in that some times, it is vital we keep them separate, yet other time it is equally necessary that they be looked at together.
There was a time in the summer where I had no idea what the future held or what I wanted it to consist of, and I was so bogged down in the past, I honestly didn't want to look ahead to the 'scary unknown'. Then a good friend of mine said this to me and I liked it so much I wrote it down on a trusty index card at work during the summer, and you will see that it fits every kind of situation. (The card is now at my desk at home so that I always see it! :) ) - "There is no point in shying away from tomorrow, just because you regret what happened yesterday." This is when holding on to the past can have a negative effect, as I have seen it happen personally in my own life. Don't confuse and mix together the past with the future!
However, if one was to entirely forget the past and all that they have learned from it, their present and future would be very different indeed. The past has got you to the present and what you do in the present becomes the foundation for your future. Enjoy the memories you have, live today with no regrets and plan for your future! Leave me your thoughts on the matter! The following are just some quotes I have enjoyed...
"As when you paint your portrait for a friend,
Who keeps it in a drawer and looks at it
Long after he has ceased to love you, just
To hold together what he was and is."
To hold together what you were and are. That is the whole point of the past, is it not? To realize who you were then and who you are now. It is complicated in that some times, it is vital we keep them separate, yet other time it is equally necessary that they be looked at together.
There was a time in the summer where I had no idea what the future held or what I wanted it to consist of, and I was so bogged down in the past, I honestly didn't want to look ahead to the 'scary unknown'. Then a good friend of mine said this to me and I liked it so much I wrote it down on a trusty index card at work during the summer, and you will see that it fits every kind of situation. (The card is now at my desk at home so that I always see it! :) ) - "There is no point in shying away from tomorrow, just because you regret what happened yesterday." This is when holding on to the past can have a negative effect, as I have seen it happen personally in my own life. Don't confuse and mix together the past with the future!
However, if one was to entirely forget the past and all that they have learned from it, their present and future would be very different indeed. The past has got you to the present and what you do in the present becomes the foundation for your future. Enjoy the memories you have, live today with no regrets and plan for your future! Leave me your thoughts on the matter! The following are just some quotes I have enjoyed...
Monday, 10 September 2012
Raging Sea...
I've had this song on my iPod for a long, long time and yesterday it came on and I took time to listen to the words...and I was blown away.
Sometimes the journey makes you weary
Feels like a long and winding road
Sometimes this life can lose it's meaning
But you might be surprised to find some hope.
Maybe you're wondering where love is
You may feel it's far away from here
Maybe you're wondering where I am
You might be surprised to find I'm near
Chorus:
And when your life is tossed and turning
And you are on the raging sea
I'll come and pull you from the water
Then you will know that you are free
So if you're stumbling through the valley
Or if you're tempted to give up the fight
Reach out your hand and I will lead you
I will be your strong arm in the night.
Take time. Time for yourself. Take time. Time to look around and see if anyone close to you is in the 'sea' - and be the one to pull them out. I realize that this song has a double meaning. The first is that Jesus Christ is love and that He is ever near to those who love Him and He will pull you out and set you on the solid rock. The second is that friends and family love and they can show interest and attention, so that when "your life is tossed and turning", they can help :)
Here is the song if you want to listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVwNJvw4zm8
Sometimes the journey makes you weary
Feels like a long and winding road
Sometimes this life can lose it's meaning
But you might be surprised to find some hope.
Maybe you're wondering where love is
You may feel it's far away from here
Maybe you're wondering where I am
You might be surprised to find I'm near
Chorus:
And when your life is tossed and turning
And you are on the raging sea
I'll come and pull you from the water
Then you will know that you are free
So if you're stumbling through the valley
Or if you're tempted to give up the fight
Reach out your hand and I will lead you
I will be your strong arm in the night.
Take time. Time for yourself. Take time. Time to look around and see if anyone close to you is in the 'sea' - and be the one to pull them out. I realize that this song has a double meaning. The first is that Jesus Christ is love and that He is ever near to those who love Him and He will pull you out and set you on the solid rock. The second is that friends and family love and they can show interest and attention, so that when "your life is tossed and turning", they can help :)
Here is the song if you want to listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVwNJvw4zm8
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Edmonton - Part 3 and Final Part
Doing this post now even though I have 1 more day here!
Wednesday - I spent the morning in Wal-Mart with the family, and we all went to McD's for lunch :) Then, in the afternoon, I was dropped off at the legislature and had a free tour inside. One of the people in the tour group lives in the town where I was born in England so small world! Then in the evening, I went out for supper to friends' house and ended up in a medical clinic (not for me....thanks Tim :) )
Thursday - In the morning was the joint birthday party for the boys that I am staying with! One turned 5 today and one turns 3 in a few weeks! It was a great party with a dinosaur theme, complete with paper mache dinosaur eggs etc. Then in the afternoon, we relaxed from the party :) Two other young people came for supper and we returned to the legislature grounds for a really cool walk, with all the grounds lit up :)
Friday - Finally made it to West Edmonton Mall! I went with a good friend and we did some CRAZY shopping. Apparently it is rare to be able to do all the shops in 1 or 2 days... we did most of them in 5 hours :) Nearer the end, it was more like me running into a store, grabbing things, nearly overheating in the changing rooms, standing in line, running out, going into another store and doing it all over again :) Good times. Then we met up with another girl for supper at Tony Roma's, then there was an all-girls birthday party for my hostess which was super nice :)
Saturday - Actually slept in! Then was really lazy until about 2, when we all went to South Edmonton Commons (which is like all the outlet stores). It was super crazy there as it was the last Saturday before school starts, but we all persevered and got what we wanted. In the evening was the 2nd bonfire of my trip :)
Sunday - Today we just had the usual meetings, then we had a few girls over for supper. Then there was a sing after the evening meeting.
Tomorrow (Monday) - My last day :( In the morning, just planning on packing up. I am doing some serious praying that I will be under or just at the weight allowance for the flight back :) In the afternoon, all the youth are getting together for some Labor Day fun, complete with sports, games and a BBQ. Then I fly out at 9pm and get into Winnipeg at midnight (MB time). That is then followed by a lot of hectic activity to prepare for school starting Wednesday :)
Wednesday - I spent the morning in Wal-Mart with the family, and we all went to McD's for lunch :) Then, in the afternoon, I was dropped off at the legislature and had a free tour inside. One of the people in the tour group lives in the town where I was born in England so small world! Then in the evening, I went out for supper to friends' house and ended up in a medical clinic (not for me....thanks Tim :) )
Thursday - In the morning was the joint birthday party for the boys that I am staying with! One turned 5 today and one turns 3 in a few weeks! It was a great party with a dinosaur theme, complete with paper mache dinosaur eggs etc. Then in the afternoon, we relaxed from the party :) Two other young people came for supper and we returned to the legislature grounds for a really cool walk, with all the grounds lit up :)
Friday - Finally made it to West Edmonton Mall! I went with a good friend and we did some CRAZY shopping. Apparently it is rare to be able to do all the shops in 1 or 2 days... we did most of them in 5 hours :) Nearer the end, it was more like me running into a store, grabbing things, nearly overheating in the changing rooms, standing in line, running out, going into another store and doing it all over again :) Good times. Then we met up with another girl for supper at Tony Roma's, then there was an all-girls birthday party for my hostess which was super nice :)
Saturday - Actually slept in! Then was really lazy until about 2, when we all went to South Edmonton Commons (which is like all the outlet stores). It was super crazy there as it was the last Saturday before school starts, but we all persevered and got what we wanted. In the evening was the 2nd bonfire of my trip :)
Sunday - Today we just had the usual meetings, then we had a few girls over for supper. Then there was a sing after the evening meeting.
Tomorrow (Monday) - My last day :( In the morning, just planning on packing up. I am doing some serious praying that I will be under or just at the weight allowance for the flight back :) In the afternoon, all the youth are getting together for some Labor Day fun, complete with sports, games and a BBQ. Then I fly out at 9pm and get into Winnipeg at midnight (MB time). That is then followed by a lot of hectic activity to prepare for school starting Wednesday :)
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Edmonton - Part 2 :)
I am still having a wonderful time here! It's a pleasant mixture of fun, busy activities and also relaxation and doing absolutely nothing :)
Monday - Me and my lovely hostess went and had tea with a married lady from Ireland and her cute baby girl, so that was lovely to talk about all things British :) , then I managed to finish the last book in a series, which was great to end all that suspense! And that day finished by playing a great word game with the couple I'm staying with, and having a heated discussion on whether 'ping' is a word :)
Tuesday - We had a full day at Fort Edmonton Park. You can check that out at this website: http://www.fortedmontonpark.ca/ That was followed by a great evening at a friend's house with a few other people, and my first bonfire on this trip! It was lovely :)
Today's plans are to get dropped off at the Legislature Building and get a free tour inside, then there is a self-guided tour of the grounds. I may just take a book and read under a tree too :) Then I am out for supper with friends :)
The rest of my time here included busy plans as well but those will be blogged later.
In case you are wondering why I am being so detailed, it's mostly for my own benefit! I'm doing this so I don't forget what I did on what day, or the different things I did on my trip. To all of my family reading this, I miss you lots and I will see you soon!
Monday - Me and my lovely hostess went and had tea with a married lady from Ireland and her cute baby girl, so that was lovely to talk about all things British :) , then I managed to finish the last book in a series, which was great to end all that suspense! And that day finished by playing a great word game with the couple I'm staying with, and having a heated discussion on whether 'ping' is a word :)
Tuesday - We had a full day at Fort Edmonton Park. You can check that out at this website: http://www.fortedmontonpark.ca/ That was followed by a great evening at a friend's house with a few other people, and my first bonfire on this trip! It was lovely :)
Today's plans are to get dropped off at the Legislature Building and get a free tour inside, then there is a self-guided tour of the grounds. I may just take a book and read under a tree too :) Then I am out for supper with friends :)
The rest of my time here included busy plans as well but those will be blogged later.
In case you are wondering why I am being so detailed, it's mostly for my own benefit! I'm doing this so I don't forget what I did on what day, or the different things I did on my trip. To all of my family reading this, I miss you lots and I will see you soon!
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Edmonton :)
Well here I am in a new place! It's actually rather bizarre as I have to actually remind myself that I have never been here before. I guess it's because I know so many people from here, but I have just always seen them in other places and not here! I got here on Thursday (the 23rd) and am here till Labor Day Monday. I'm staying with a great couple and their 3 adorable boys. It has been SO great to enjoy the simple pleasures of a vacation and not feel guilty! For example, we went to a Christian book store yesterday and I treated myself to a new book (a biography) and it was so gripping that I read half the book in the afternoon, without a little voice in my head telling me that I should be doing something else instead :)
Then in the evening, the sun came out and it was gorgeous! There were around 15 people over and we had a great volleyball game, and I was actually convinced (or persuaded) to play...and for those people who know me, that is no small feat! Many laughs were had by all, so much so that my ribs are still aching this morning :)
The plan for today is to have a lazy morning then I am potentially going with a friend to 'Whyte Avenue'...doesn't that sound so classy? It's like that famous Ave. in New York....5th Ave? Here is a link to see what it is about:http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g154914-d156146/Edmonton:Alberta:Whyte.Avenue.html
Anyways...that is what I have been up to thus far :)
Then in the evening, the sun came out and it was gorgeous! There were around 15 people over and we had a great volleyball game, and I was actually convinced (or persuaded) to play...and for those people who know me, that is no small feat! Many laughs were had by all, so much so that my ribs are still aching this morning :)
The plan for today is to have a lazy morning then I am potentially going with a friend to 'Whyte Avenue'...doesn't that sound so classy? It's like that famous Ave. in New York....5th Ave? Here is a link to see what it is about:http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g154914-d156146/Edmonton:Alberta:Whyte.Avenue.html
Anyways...that is what I have been up to thus far :)
Friday, 10 August 2012
On a Journey :)
With my present summer job, I drive a total of 90 minutes every day to and from work. It is because of this that I have been constantly reminded of journeys, and what is involved. Then, because those 90 minutes can be rather boring, I started to think and to link it to life and I was amazed at how appropriate the saying "Life is a journey" really is. A certain girl reading this will get the private joke associated with that phrase ;) The following is a list of things that are a part of a journey and how they apply to life :)
- Dates: This is rather straightforward, as our birth date is the beginning of the journey and our death is the end.
- Preparations: Booking flights, hotels, transportation etc is vital to having a successful time! What is life without goals and dreams? To drift through aimlessly is such a waste - prepare! (for more on this see my post "Time...then Eternity").
-Luggage/Baggage: I had an interesting thought on this the other day. Many times when we say someone has a lot of 'baggage' re. life, it is often shed in a negative light and sometimes, the baggage may be negative. Yet think how ridiculous it would be to go on a long journey and have absolutely no baggage! It would be crazy. It is perfectly fine to have 'baggage' so long as it is the right kind. What is the right kind? Good baggage includes experiences (not regrets), memories that help (and not weigh one down), the love of family (not their disapproval), and the support of friends (not their rejection). It would be rather puzzling if someone, say teenagers and up, had no 'baggage' whatsoever. That would show that they had not taken risks, that they had not gained from poor experiences etc.
- Destination: Eternity :) Life is just the stepping stone...the bridge between. But remember, life is not a dress rehearsal. We only get 1 life - live it well.
-Distance: Sometimes, if we have never gone to a place before, we are unsure of how long it will take. These days, things like Map Quest, GPS or Google Maps, can aid in that. But think of the days before those things existed. When settlers on the prairies moved out West, they had NO idea how long it would take them! I think you can make the connection, that life can be taken at any time - no one knows how long they will live.
- Entertainment: It is always important to keep the destination in mind, so we can travel the journey accordingly. However, the flip side of that is don't get so caught up in the end that you miss the here and now. Don't miss the cool mountains, the ocean, the other funny things you may see on the side of the road. Don't blow past tiny towns or breeze through crazy cities. Enjoy the trip. Music, conversations, friends, family etc. always make literal trips fun! Life needs fun :)
-Difficulties: No trip is complete without something going wrong! Whether it be the car breaking down, or losing luggage or missing connections, something is bound to happen. Yet when the trip is over, those 'trials' become fun memories that add to the experience of the trip! An anonymous person once said, "If the mountain (life) was smooth, you couldn't climb it." Turn the difficulties into something good. :)
-Food/Fuel: Also vitally important! The first is for you, the second is the means to keep you going! If you ignore either, the journey ends. "If you fuel your journey on the opinions of others, you are going to run out of gas.” Suicide is a dreadful thing and most of the time it is because the individual has lost the will and motivation to live. How sad. They didn't fuel the fire of life. Make time for these important stops - it will make a difference in the long run!
This was longer than I anticipated - but the next time you go on a journey, whether it be short or long, think of life. Make your life the best trip and journey ever! And have fun along the way :) If I have missed something, or you would like to add something - please do!
- Dates: This is rather straightforward, as our birth date is the beginning of the journey and our death is the end.
- Preparations: Booking flights, hotels, transportation etc is vital to having a successful time! What is life without goals and dreams? To drift through aimlessly is such a waste - prepare! (for more on this see my post "Time...then Eternity").
-Luggage/Baggage: I had an interesting thought on this the other day. Many times when we say someone has a lot of 'baggage' re. life, it is often shed in a negative light and sometimes, the baggage may be negative. Yet think how ridiculous it would be to go on a long journey and have absolutely no baggage! It would be crazy. It is perfectly fine to have 'baggage' so long as it is the right kind. What is the right kind? Good baggage includes experiences (not regrets), memories that help (and not weigh one down), the love of family (not their disapproval), and the support of friends (not their rejection). It would be rather puzzling if someone, say teenagers and up, had no 'baggage' whatsoever. That would show that they had not taken risks, that they had not gained from poor experiences etc.
- Destination: Eternity :) Life is just the stepping stone...the bridge between. But remember, life is not a dress rehearsal. We only get 1 life - live it well.
-Distance: Sometimes, if we have never gone to a place before, we are unsure of how long it will take. These days, things like Map Quest, GPS or Google Maps, can aid in that. But think of the days before those things existed. When settlers on the prairies moved out West, they had NO idea how long it would take them! I think you can make the connection, that life can be taken at any time - no one knows how long they will live.
- Entertainment: It is always important to keep the destination in mind, so we can travel the journey accordingly. However, the flip side of that is don't get so caught up in the end that you miss the here and now. Don't miss the cool mountains, the ocean, the other funny things you may see on the side of the road. Don't blow past tiny towns or breeze through crazy cities. Enjoy the trip. Music, conversations, friends, family etc. always make literal trips fun! Life needs fun :)
-Difficulties: No trip is complete without something going wrong! Whether it be the car breaking down, or losing luggage or missing connections, something is bound to happen. Yet when the trip is over, those 'trials' become fun memories that add to the experience of the trip! An anonymous person once said, "If the mountain (life) was smooth, you couldn't climb it." Turn the difficulties into something good. :)
-Food/Fuel: Also vitally important! The first is for you, the second is the means to keep you going! If you ignore either, the journey ends. "If you fuel your journey on the opinions of others, you are going to run out of gas.” Suicide is a dreadful thing and most of the time it is because the individual has lost the will and motivation to live. How sad. They didn't fuel the fire of life. Make time for these important stops - it will make a difference in the long run!
This was longer than I anticipated - but the next time you go on a journey, whether it be short or long, think of life. Make your life the best trip and journey ever! And have fun along the way :) If I have missed something, or you would like to add something - please do!
Friday, 3 August 2012
What is peace?
Peace. I believe that word conjures up both a general definition and also a personal connotation. Everybody in the world knows what peace is, whether from the enjoyment of it, or the lack of it in their lives. At all the world conferences there is a quest for 'world peace'. Personally, I think we will never attain that until individuals learn what peace is personally.
There are many peaceful scenes that can be pictured. A lake as calm as glass, the house when all the kids are in bed asleep, the roar of a consistent ocean, standing outside in the country and looking up at all the stars, a perfect sunset or sunrise, and the list could go on. God has placed many things in nature that remind us of peace.
I used to think that peace was not having any rough situations in life, nothing to 'rock the boat'. Now, through experience and through the experiences of others, I know that is not the case. Peace is something I can have no matter what life tosses my way. See, I know the one who is the Prince of Peace :) In fact, many many years before Christ was born, there was a prophecy stating that He is such - Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
When one is a prince, they rule over something and they bestow of their wealth and possessions, so it is here. What assurance that the peace I have comes from the one who created that peace, and who freely gives it to those who seek Him.
There are two symbolic examples of peace which I love, as a reminder to myself. The first, and not one I see often where I live, is the ocean after a storm. From the water crashing over the rocks, to boats being tossed up and down, to lives being in as a result... then to utter serenity. The same water that was crashing, now laps gently on the shore. The boats once tossed, now anchor safe and secure, and lives can enjoy the sea once again.
The other example, and one that is quite frequent in the summer, is the calm after a thunderstorm. When the wind has died down, and the rain gone away....there is a sweet atmosphere to be felt and enjoyed. So it is with life. Only with Jesus Christ, the peace can be enjoyed before, DURING and after the storm. A favorite verse of mine is found in Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you."
A song that I have so often enjoyed is sung by a group called Sanctus Real and it's called, "Whatever you're doing." I've posted the link below so you can listen to it:
"Whatever you're doing, inside of me
It feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace
And though it's hard to surrender to what I can't see,
I'm giving in to something heavenly."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfZ3THjUcs0
Tell me, what is peace to you?
There are many peaceful scenes that can be pictured. A lake as calm as glass, the house when all the kids are in bed asleep, the roar of a consistent ocean, standing outside in the country and looking up at all the stars, a perfect sunset or sunrise, and the list could go on. God has placed many things in nature that remind us of peace.
I used to think that peace was not having any rough situations in life, nothing to 'rock the boat'. Now, through experience and through the experiences of others, I know that is not the case. Peace is something I can have no matter what life tosses my way. See, I know the one who is the Prince of Peace :) In fact, many many years before Christ was born, there was a prophecy stating that He is such - Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
When one is a prince, they rule over something and they bestow of their wealth and possessions, so it is here. What assurance that the peace I have comes from the one who created that peace, and who freely gives it to those who seek Him.
There are two symbolic examples of peace which I love, as a reminder to myself. The first, and not one I see often where I live, is the ocean after a storm. From the water crashing over the rocks, to boats being tossed up and down, to lives being in as a result... then to utter serenity. The same water that was crashing, now laps gently on the shore. The boats once tossed, now anchor safe and secure, and lives can enjoy the sea once again.
The other example, and one that is quite frequent in the summer, is the calm after a thunderstorm. When the wind has died down, and the rain gone away....there is a sweet atmosphere to be felt and enjoyed. So it is with life. Only with Jesus Christ, the peace can be enjoyed before, DURING and after the storm. A favorite verse of mine is found in Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you."
A song that I have so often enjoyed is sung by a group called Sanctus Real and it's called, "Whatever you're doing." I've posted the link below so you can listen to it:
"Whatever you're doing, inside of me
It feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace
And though it's hard to surrender to what I can't see,
I'm giving in to something heavenly."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfZ3THjUcs0
Tell me, what is peace to you?
Friday, 27 July 2012
Being an English Major...and why it is THE best :)
For those of you reading this who are not English majors, you may disagree with the title but hear me out :) For those of you who are and agree, enjoy the following and let me know your thoughts :) For those who are wondering what on earth I mean, I mean a major in a university degree not the nationality of a position in the Army! This post is for those people who, after asking what my major is and I tell them, go..."Whaaat?? Why?! Why would you choose THAT?" To which I sometimes reply, "Why not?" :)
I know that many fellow students (and those who are coming to school or those who have completed it) may have had a struggle settling on a major. However, that was never an issue for me. Ever since I can remember I have loved the subject of English, both the mechanics (grammar, punctuation and all that) and the literature. It grew from a love of spelling and being so proud of always making it to the top 3 kids of the class spelling bees, to loving the books studied in junior high and high school to being excited about extremely focused courses in university. I was THRILLED upon receiving the course guide and seeing a full-year, 6 credit hour course in Shakespeare alone. Absolutely great. Since being at uni I have taken courses in Canadian literature, Middle English texts, Shakespeare, literature from the Romantic period, texts written by female authors, Victorian poetry and 20th century American drama. Such variety! There are so many more I would love to take but I have run out of time!
There are 2 simple reasons why I chose English as my major. 1. I love English :) 2. Because it is my declared major I have to take many, many courses and hours (36 hours to be exact) to complete it - therefore forcing me to take the subject I love :)
Setting aside the major aspect of it, there are other reasons why I love English. To me there is something very thrilling about reading/studying a piece of literature that was written many decades, or even centuries ago, and finding that the author has perfectly conveyed my own thoughts and emotions that I am experiencing that day. OR, in more general terms, the way they convey ideas and arguments in such creative ways! The human race has not changed. All the same emotions are felt. And English literature, to me, spans generations and time eras and ties it all together.
For those friends and family reading this who know that I am awful in math and the sciences...this is why. It is because in Math there is only 1 right answer...only 1! Science is mostly theories, some proven, some not. English? No one right answer. It is a matter of opinions, thoughts and the ability to express them and to draw them out of what you are reading and substantiate it with evidence from the text. And it is THIS that has provided the fuel and material for the countless English classes at uni shared with great friends (you know who you are!), the memories that have been made, the life lessons that have been learned, the experiences with different profs and the overall enjoyment of literature :) That is why it is THE best.
I know that many fellow students (and those who are coming to school or those who have completed it) may have had a struggle settling on a major. However, that was never an issue for me. Ever since I can remember I have loved the subject of English, both the mechanics (grammar, punctuation and all that) and the literature. It grew from a love of spelling and being so proud of always making it to the top 3 kids of the class spelling bees, to loving the books studied in junior high and high school to being excited about extremely focused courses in university. I was THRILLED upon receiving the course guide and seeing a full-year, 6 credit hour course in Shakespeare alone. Absolutely great. Since being at uni I have taken courses in Canadian literature, Middle English texts, Shakespeare, literature from the Romantic period, texts written by female authors, Victorian poetry and 20th century American drama. Such variety! There are so many more I would love to take but I have run out of time!
There are 2 simple reasons why I chose English as my major. 1. I love English :) 2. Because it is my declared major I have to take many, many courses and hours (36 hours to be exact) to complete it - therefore forcing me to take the subject I love :)
Setting aside the major aspect of it, there are other reasons why I love English. To me there is something very thrilling about reading/studying a piece of literature that was written many decades, or even centuries ago, and finding that the author has perfectly conveyed my own thoughts and emotions that I am experiencing that day. OR, in more general terms, the way they convey ideas and arguments in such creative ways! The human race has not changed. All the same emotions are felt. And English literature, to me, spans generations and time eras and ties it all together.
For those friends and family reading this who know that I am awful in math and the sciences...this is why. It is because in Math there is only 1 right answer...only 1! Science is mostly theories, some proven, some not. English? No one right answer. It is a matter of opinions, thoughts and the ability to express them and to draw them out of what you are reading and substantiate it with evidence from the text. And it is THIS that has provided the fuel and material for the countless English classes at uni shared with great friends (you know who you are!), the memories that have been made, the life lessons that have been learned, the experiences with different profs and the overall enjoyment of literature :) That is why it is THE best.
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Time.....then Eternity
I wrote this about a week and a half ago after the sudden passing of a friend of mine at the beginning of June. I hope these simple thoughts challenge and bless you as they have me.
How ironic it is that it takes someone to die
to teach someone to live. Yet that is
what happened to me. When a friend of mine passed from earth into eternity, it
made me realize how vital it is that my life while here on earth needs to be
lived in light of that great eternity. I grieved not the life that was lost but
the loss of the life I had already lived. If I knew I was to die in 5 minutes,
I would be frantic with regret of things I have not done or said, or things I
should not have done or said. How is it then that many times in Scripture we
are taught that very thing and yet it ceases to be a habit of our lives? Acts
17:25 states that God “gives to all life and breath…”or Proverbs 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you
do not know what a day may bring.”Why then, do our lives not
follow this mindset?
When my friend died, I realized what an
oxymoron life truly is. Life is a gift and yet is a gift that we know for a
fact, will at some point be taken from us. We should never live life as though
we are counting on or certain of the future, but rather to live a life that is
planned for the future. One may ask what the difference is. As a human being
and soul, there is nothing more important in this temporary life than being
prepared for the life that is to follow. Without God in my life, true life
ceases to exist and life becomes a mundane ritual that has no purpose. Yet if I
were to live with the mindset in my life, that there will always be tomorrow, then
that wrongly portrays what life is to God. Life is God’s gift to me, what I do
with that life is my gift to God. That verse in Acts states that “God gives”,
many a time at funerals the verse from Job is read, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken
away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Life is a gift! For any other gift, I
am thankful, I am grateful, I may be rendered speechless with the generosity of
it and I use it or spend it wisely because it is that – a gift. Why then is
life – something far more priceless than anything else I could receive- treated
with such indifference?
Even
though my friend’s life was cut short at age 17, he left behind a full memory
and lasting legacy. This too, dramatically shifted my view on my own life. What
is the sole purpose of my life? Is it to ultimately bring glory to God? I must
reply in shame that my selfish heart answers no. And yet what greater purpose
can there be, than to bring glory to my Creator and Savior? So I have resolved
to set goals and a means of direction to my life which is in tune with the will
of God, and thus by me, with His help, seeking to carry out that will, I may
bring glory to His person. However, we must not forget that God has blessed us
with countless gifts along the journey. When is the last time I appreciated the
things He has placed directly in my life to remind me of Him and His goodness
to me? I now realize that the laugh of my nieces or nephew is a gift. The
beauty of grand music, the smell of a rare flower, the invaluable friendships I
have, the love of a family, the chance to get an education, the privilege of
having a job and the list could go on. I do believe in the great significance
of the little things.
How
simple it is and yet how hard for us to apologize when needed, to express our
love, to say what needs to be said and to do what needs to be done, to
acknowledge what we have rather than focusing on what we don’t have. I am
challenging myself, as I turn the age of 20, to live a life that counts! To
live the one life I get, that if I knew I was to die in 5 minutes, I would pass
into eternity prepared, and to stand before Christ with no shame, without the
burden of regret and goals not yet reached, knowing that I had touched others
lives with my life, and ultimately bringing glory to the One who have me this
life to begin with. This life is not for forever, it is for right now. Eternity
is not right now but it is forever. God give me the help, focus and strength to
remember that.
Monday, 23 July 2012
The Best of Friends :)
This post is about a dear, dear friend of mine. In fact it was she, who inspired me to do this blog. To see hers...check out http://beautifullifeofabusybee.blogspot.ca/
This friend is amazing. I know that some view that word as a superlative, exaggeration or some such thing and I too, try to use it correctly. This time I am. :) It surprises me often that we will have only known each other for a year come this September. I am so thankful for her. I will be honest and say that this past year has been a little rough. Many changes have occurred (both positive and negative) and that is to be expected in life. After all "the only thing that ever stays the same is change." There were days where I felt like I was drowning in the sea of expectations, responsibilities, priorities and emotions and I couldn't see the clear horizon anymore or, if you like, the forest for the trees. (I should perhaps insert here that I am an English major, therefore metaphors, symbols and the like may appear!) Countless times, my friend would pull me from the water, set me on the solid earth yet again and point out to me what life was truly about. It is never about the stress of school, but rather the education we receive. It is never about berating ourselves for past mistakes, but taking the good from the mistakes and applying it so we never repeat them. It is never about being so crazy busy that we don't have time for ourselves, but rather to set time apart just for me. She taught me all of that.
Yet, casting all seriousness aside, she is also the type where if I want to be 100% silly and throw caution and care to the wind, it is to her I turn to! The fact that we have the same taste in school, our present jobs and our future careers tells me that this runs deep :) We also enjoy the oldies but the goodies in movies, the yummy cheesecake from Gullivers, the same music of classics, instrumental and jazz, and the same authors of Austen, Bronte, Fern and Landon. We both love the sun (and the symbolism involved with it) and rather than spending money or going someplace, we'd rather just veg and chat (which is our specialty). She is the type of friend who, scarily enough, knows how I am going to react to a situation or statement before I do or sometimes even before it happens!
I love her as a sister and I am so thankful she is in my life :) I love you, Spotty!
This friend is amazing. I know that some view that word as a superlative, exaggeration or some such thing and I too, try to use it correctly. This time I am. :) It surprises me often that we will have only known each other for a year come this September. I am so thankful for her. I will be honest and say that this past year has been a little rough. Many changes have occurred (both positive and negative) and that is to be expected in life. After all "the only thing that ever stays the same is change." There were days where I felt like I was drowning in the sea of expectations, responsibilities, priorities and emotions and I couldn't see the clear horizon anymore or, if you like, the forest for the trees. (I should perhaps insert here that I am an English major, therefore metaphors, symbols and the like may appear!) Countless times, my friend would pull me from the water, set me on the solid earth yet again and point out to me what life was truly about. It is never about the stress of school, but rather the education we receive. It is never about berating ourselves for past mistakes, but taking the good from the mistakes and applying it so we never repeat them. It is never about being so crazy busy that we don't have time for ourselves, but rather to set time apart just for me. She taught me all of that.
Yet, casting all seriousness aside, she is also the type where if I want to be 100% silly and throw caution and care to the wind, it is to her I turn to! The fact that we have the same taste in school, our present jobs and our future careers tells me that this runs deep :) We also enjoy the oldies but the goodies in movies, the yummy cheesecake from Gullivers, the same music of classics, instrumental and jazz, and the same authors of Austen, Bronte, Fern and Landon. We both love the sun (and the symbolism involved with it) and rather than spending money or going someplace, we'd rather just veg and chat (which is our specialty). She is the type of friend who, scarily enough, knows how I am going to react to a situation or statement before I do or sometimes even before it happens!
I love her as a sister and I am so thankful she is in my life :) I love you, Spotty!
Lemons & Roses - The Beginning
I now have a blog. Wow! Kinda exciting. This blog is not to post adorable pictures of my kids (for the simple fact that I have none...kids, that is) or to tell of their latest antics (like my sisters blogs) or to promote a business. It is just meant to be a place to share, muse and ponder.This blog's purpose is simple. To spread the positivity that there is in life, and in mine in particular. Also, to keep family and friends up to date on what is happening! Many times you will see that phrase...~Spread the Positivity.~
This day is rather significant in that, 20 years ago today, my life began. Born in a town in North Yorkshire, England, who would've thought I would be in Manitoba, Canada? And it seems that is only the beginning of the journey. As a friend wisecracked to me, I am now 1/5 of a century old :) I am enjoying the love of my amazing family and dear friends. Life is good....eternal life is better. I thank God for saving me from my sins at the age of 5 and am constantly amazed by the grace and love He bestows to me on a daily basis.
This first post will be brief but you may be wondering where the title originated from....when I graduated from high school, a friend gave me a card and the following stanzas were on the front and I never forgot them!
"Life can bring lemons and roses,
The bitter along with the sweet
And it's mainly the way that we handle those things
That determines success or defeat.
So enjoy all the roses life gives you,
But notice how quickly they fade,
While lessons you think of as toughest to swallow
Can easily become lemonade."
:)
This day is rather significant in that, 20 years ago today, my life began. Born in a town in North Yorkshire, England, who would've thought I would be in Manitoba, Canada? And it seems that is only the beginning of the journey. As a friend wisecracked to me, I am now 1/5 of a century old :) I am enjoying the love of my amazing family and dear friends. Life is good....eternal life is better. I thank God for saving me from my sins at the age of 5 and am constantly amazed by the grace and love He bestows to me on a daily basis.
This first post will be brief but you may be wondering where the title originated from....when I graduated from high school, a friend gave me a card and the following stanzas were on the front and I never forgot them!
"Life can bring lemons and roses,
The bitter along with the sweet
And it's mainly the way that we handle those things
That determines success or defeat.
So enjoy all the roses life gives you,
But notice how quickly they fade,
While lessons you think of as toughest to swallow
Can easily become lemonade."
:)
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