Want to have some fun

Hello Blogger friends,

Leanne and I are planning to have a bon fire Friday night in Harbourville just behind the restaurant around 7pm. You are all welcome to come, even if you don't post blogs and are just a reader of my blog you are more than welcome to come. I would love to see you all. Man, woman and child are all welcome to come. Bring your own treats if you want any.

Hello everyone,
It has come to my attention that I have been missed in the blogging world. I am happily in Nova Scotia with my friend Leanne. We are having a great time. We have got to the city, Lisa's cottage, Cape Split and we have eaten sooo much. Here are a few pictures to keep a certain sister-in-law happy. I will give a full report soon. By the way, to all of you Nova Scotia bloggers are you up for a tea party next week? Let me know.

Birthday Girl

So I turned 30 today. I had a wonderful day!!! I've got lots of pictures to share but at the moment I need to get to the airport so I can take the redeye to Nova Scotia. I'm excited but I am very sad to be leaving James for so long. I am counting on all you Bluenosers to help me forget my sorrows. See most of you soon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Lyndsie is so right

I decided to help a friend out and bake for her bake sale. I was rewared by burning my arm on the oven door. The oven door had it in for as it seemed to close before I got my arm out. I think next time I will just give a lump of cookie dough that someone else can bake. Poor me. Does anyone feel sorry for me?

Free At Last

Well, I am finally finished my summer session courses and I am truly thankful. I cannot believe that this coming school year is my last. In April I will finally get my degree and be free from the world of academia...at least until I go back to get my Education degree. I wish I had a funny antedote to tell about my final exam but there really isn't one. I left studying for my exam until the last minute as usual, crammed my head full of information that I will never use (It was a history of design exam) and then walked in the room and wrote for 2 hours. I managed to fill an exam booklet with information that is only good for trivial pursuit. But I am finished and have added another six hours of credits to my degree. Hurray for me. Now that I am done I have 2 1/2 weeks off to enjoy myself. I can't wait to bask in the sea salt air of Turner's Brook, stuff my face full of seafood and most importantly see my friends and family. But FIRST I must first turn 30...although I am not excited to be entering a new decade I am excited to be spending the day at the West Edmonton Mall waterpark. I wish Taye and Bronson were here to go with me. Bronson I will make James go down that big red one for you :) Well, since this post has very little point I will sign off. Good night all.

Daniel John (aka Chirp)

I thought I would post a new picture of Laura and David's new little guy. From what I hear he is a great little guy. I am looking forward to meeting him next week.

It's a small world thanks to Kelly

I was talking to my friend Amy Hannam tonight, she is from Nova Scotia, and I discovered what a small world this really is. Amy told me that she has been reading my blogs lately and checking out some of the links on my page. She was delighted to find that there was a familar face amongst my links. She recognized Kelly's shining smile. Amy moonlights at the Staples Copy Centre where she told me she encountered a delightful woman who use to print menus at Staples. She told me that she just knew Kelly was a Christain. We both agreed that Kelly is a blessing to know.

Me and my puppy

Since I don't have kids I am still in love with my dog. She may be slobbery and smelly but she is so cute and has a ton of personality. She jumped on the coach for some lovin' the other night.

Sunday musings

Everyone one knows that it isn't nice to judge others. Despite how we were raised most of us eventually learn that judging others only makes us bitter and cynical; so why do we do it? In the Bible it tells us DO NOT judge and to leave the judgment up to God, but I like to add a clause to this command. It usually takes the form of "I just need to vent..." or "If they weren't so...I wouldn't say this, but..." or "What were they thinking..." or "It's not what I'm used to...". I have been very guilty of this since I moved to Edmonton. Most of my Christian life I have attended Weston and if not at Weston I was at NBBI. Two places that I would say are theologically sound (NBBI is a bit weird but that is a topic for a different post). I have been blessed to have been brought up in such an environment. However, I am no longer in that environment. I am in the Wild, yet conservative, Western province of Alberta. I have had a chip on my spiritual shoulder since I got here. Right from the beginning I have had it in for churches out here. When I started attending Strathcona Baptist I fell in love with the people, they are nice and friendly and people who are interested in what I am interested in. But I have never given the church a chance. I will admit, there are a number of things that I do not agree with. But is it all bad? Is my failure to grow as a Christian out here the churches fault or mine? I really don't know. I don't feel like I get meaty sermons anymore but does that mean there isn't anything I can learn? Has my judgmental attitude been the problem? I was struck today in the sermon by how judgmental I have been lately. Before James and I even made it through the doors I had thrown out a negative comment on how long the worship part of the service was. My attitude only soured more when I found out we were having a guest speaker, a woman. But I was soon captivated by what she was saying. What really stood out to me today was the passion in which this woman spoke. Her voice cracked as she read of God's holiness in Psalm 99. I don't remember the last time I felt like that while reading the Bible. She did not deliver a bland sermon at all, it was one of stable conviction. She spoke about how God is a God of love but He is also a God of justice, one who will punish when necessary. I found and still find myself humbled because my judgmental attitude is worth punishing. By the end of the service I had the verse "All things work together for good to those who love God" (paraphrased by me, I don't have the greatest memory). I may not be 100% satisfied in my church but perhaps God is teaching me how to work for my spiritual growth. And if I am open to His teaching I can still learn things out here. Growth is not always going to be handed to me an a silver platter. James and I are preparing to travel for a number of months, perhaps missing church on a regular basis. I need to start learning how to grow on my own. I need to be thankful for what God has given to me out here, friends who will drop everything to pray for me, an opportunity to teach Sunday School, experiencing new Christians who are SO excited to be saved by grace. I still crave sermons Horton-style but thanks to Charmin's link I can get Pastor Horton 3 times a week (Thank you Charmin). Please pray for me as God teaches me to be motivated to work for what I want and that I will learn to love my neighbor as myself. (Sorry this is so long, I have lots of musings today).

Happy Birthday my sweet, wonderful niece

Taye, I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday! I cannot believe that you are 14 today! I can't wait to get home and celebrate with you and give you your present (gee I wonder what it could be...:p) I will call you later today. I'm so glad that you are back from camp, I can't wait to hear all about it and California too. Love you so much!!

Quick, easy and refreshing summer dessert

Hey Shannon, here is the recipe I was telling you about. It takes less than a half an hour to make from start to table. Best of all you don't have to use the oven, so it's a perfect summer treat. If you are on a diet there is no need to read any further...to is sooooo bad for you. It does have fruit in it so maybe you could justify it even if you are cutting back.

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c margarine melted
1/2 c margarine
2 cups confectioners' sugar (I used a bit less and it was still very sweet)
2 eggs
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 bananas (should be firm)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 can crushed pineapple
1 80z tub of Cool Whip

Combine crumbs and melted margarine and press into bottom of 9 by 13 dish.

In medium saucepan combine margarine, sugar, eggs, corn starch and vanilla. On medium heat bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 mins. (If you have hot stove top maybe less, I only had to simmer for about 5 mins) Put in fridge to cool, pour over crust.

Coin bananas and dip in lemon juice to prevent them from going brown, spread them over dessert. Drain pineapple and spread over bananas. Spread cool whip over pineapple. Put in fridge until ready to serve.

Sorry I don't have a picture. It goes great with a cup of hot tea for any of you tea drinkers out there. Enjoy.

Bored

I am SO tired! I have nothing to say because my mind has self-destructed. I really just feel like posting some pictures, so here are a few from my New York trip. It was tons of fun.

Still here

No I have not gone anywhere! I apologize for not blogging very much lately but I am in my last week of class so I've been busy. I have a presentation and an article review due tomorrow and next week I have a group presentation and a final exam. But by next Thursday night by 8pm I will be free from school. Hurray and PTL. I will then have 2 1/2 weeks off before fall classes start. I will do my best to blog a bit but I probably won't be around a lot until next week.

Humbled and in need of help

I need help you guys. I was a good Proverbs Lady today and read chapter seven but I must admit I had troubles applying it to my own life. I humbly admit that I am out of practice with my devotions. Please do not think that I am stupid because I did catch that prostitution is wrong and being lead astray is wrong but I feel like there is more to this chapter than the obvious...help please!

Nova Scotia in 13 days

I cannot wait to get home to Nova Scotia! I feel so excited to see all of my new blogging buddies face to face. I can't wait to see the ocean, to smell salt air. I can't wait to sit down and chat with old Christian friends. I can't wait to laugh until my cheeks hurt over something that isn't funny with Shannon. I can't wait to go to church at Weston. I can't wait to see my family. I can't wait to show off Nova Scotia with my friend Leanne, who has never been east before. Less than 2 weeks.

This is my friend Leanne,

Thank you Anne

I got the cutiest dress from Good Will (I checked Fairweather Lynds...no luck) and I found a navy polka dot dress to go with my new red shoes. I did a little altering and presto...a very cute outfit. (I even found a little red clutch). I don't have a picture but I wanted everyone to know that Anne is now my fashion guru.

Heritage Festival

Hello Everyone, I'm sorry to have taken a break from blogging but James and I went to Heritage Days yesterday. It is a festival that celebrates different cultures around the world. There are tons of tents set up and each tent is fill with a countries food and cultural products (clothes, hats, etc.) They also have shows throughout the day on different stages. James and I saw African dancing and singing, Aboriginal dancing, Pakistani dancing, a Japanese dragon dance and LOTS of different food (Serbian, Hawaiian, Croatian, etc). It was so cool because a lot of Edmontonians that have don't have Canadian heritage came dressed in their native dress...so cool. Lots of kimonos and saris. It was so beautiful. It was so fun just to hang out together for the day.




Can't wait to get to Nova Scotia...2 weeks from today.

Taye's birthday present?

Hey Taye,
This is the bag I got, if you would rather I got the shoes I can take this back. I think it is so funny that we both bought red bags...

Is this the right bag Lisa?

Taye, let me know if this is the right bag. I took a picture of the inside too because I thought it was cool.

Clean apartment and new shoes

So I spent my afternoon cleaning and I must say that I am pleased. James and I have a cat and a dog that shed copious amounts of hair. It is so gross and I don't always have time to vacuum. But today I did it. But I think the most satisfying job was the bathroom. I have no idea why but I love cleaning the bathroom. Now I have a sparkling sink.

I am also posting a picture of my new shoes for Taylor. We share a shoe addiction. They are sooooo awesome.

Daniel

I forgot to post a picture of my new nephew. Daniel John (aka Chirp) was born July 16. Laura says that he is sleeping well and is a good baby.

This one's for Christy

I love this picture of Emma and Maelynn. I thought I would post it for you Christy. Are they not the cutest things.

Links and my thanks

I have finally figured out how to add the links, thank you Christy and Shannon for the help. I have added Christy, Shan, Kim, Amy and Taye to my links; if any of you do not want to be up there I will take you off. Just let me know.

Can I just say thank you to all of you for your blogs. My life is so far removed from anything Christian that it is so nice to be in contact with women my age who are spiritually sound. I'm not trying to exalt you guys or anything but I wanted you to know that it is a blessing to hear about verses, quotes or moments that challange you and help you grow. I have very little Christian influence in my life right now and I am starting to feel it's effects. Please pray that I will have the endurance and motivation to read my Bible and pray so I will stay spiritually strong.