Happy 2 b Home

Whew!

Busy/strange/crazy couple of weeks.

Previous post update:

My strep throat
turns into strep ear
turns into excrutiating pain
turns into perforated eardrum
equals 2 types of antibiotics
and the feeling that I'm holding a huge sea shell up to my right ear.

But enough about me.

Hubby then gets strep throat (yes, he thanked me daily)
including 104 temp, chills, sweats.
Never seen this man SO SICK before!
I know it impacted the kids.
Everyone eternally grateful for Grandma Sabourin who was visiting because
hubby and I were supposed to be at a conference.

Then...

Daughter diagnosed with strep throat.
This would be after a total of four trips to ER in a week.

(We still don't have a family doctor.)

Blaise remains the only one unscathed.

We eventually made it to the conference!
Got to hang out with our sessionmates from our CFOT/seminary days.
So great to see everyone again and catch-up, pray about ministry highs and lows, see how much their kids have grown (through pics) and just laugh together.
We are very much a family.
We share different opinions and experiences, but we also share a bond, a passion for learning (hence the many, many questions) and definitely a penchant for late night snacking.

Happy that...

Jason is well on the mend, as is Bria.
(I'll pop into ER in a few days just to make sure my ear is healing.)

Kids got to spend time with Grandma, Grandpa & Nanny.
(We missed the kids sooo much!)

Feeling blessed for ALL the learnings of the past 2 weeks,
be it suffering through sickness and being forced to be still
as well as the learnings from the seminars and discussions that took place
in the latter part of the week.

Mostly thankful for a God who works through anything, is ever-present and provides for our needs.

(Very happy to be home.)
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Image courtesy of Jenni Waterloo on www.flickr.com

A Rainbow of Thoughts

Monday's ramblings amid all the beautiful colours of the rainbow.

I wonder if when we get to Heaven, we will see colours that we've never seen before?

That was rambling #1.

Read on, if you're intrigued.


This week is a "gearing-up" kinda week.

I have an assignment to complete for LDI part deux, which I will be attending next week near Vancouver, BC.

Excited about going (never been to Van before), but not too thrilled with flying on my own.

The last (and only) time I've ever flown on my own was when Dad was moved into the hospital.

Happy this flight will, at least, be more positive in overall general circumstance.

Also, I get to attend the Divisional Jr. Youth Together this weekend with Bria and 5 other girls. This is likely to mean very little sleep the day before I fly to BC. I know the girls are very excited, so maybe I can run on their adrenaline.

I used to be so good at staying up late!

A real night owl.

*Hoot*

I went to bed at 8pm last week.


We've been told someone should be contacting us about dropping off boxes for our move sometime this week.

Jas & I were pondering the fact that this next house will be our 6th house to live in since we got married, including a short stint of living with my parents just prior to our move to Winnipeg for CFOT.

Anyone else immediately think of Mary whenever they hear/use the word ponder?

"And Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."
- Luke 2:19


My dieting has gone to pot lately.

One would think with the nicer weather we've been (finally) having, I'd be spending more time outdoors walking/running/leaping.

No such dice. I need to make this a priority for all of us.

I have a lot of priorities right now.

Not good when you're a natural born procrastinator.


Today our goal is to (somewhat) sort through the two disaster areas of our home.

1. The garage.

(Where does all the STUFF come from?!?!?)

2. My craft room, which in recent months has ended up being more of a catch-all than a place of creativity.

I must get to those teacher appreciation gifts and other tokens of thanks that I have floating around in my head!

My greatest ideas of inspiration come to me in the middle of night when everyone else is asleep.

Why IS that?

I need to keep a pad of paper and a pen on my bedside table and record these random creative thoughts immediately.

For future pondering.


Speaking of weather (a few ramblings back), I was recently chatting with another Albertan Mom about how difficult it is to dress kids for school during this time of year.

The day can start out at 0 degrees and end up close to +20.

Last week when I picked the kids up from school, I literally saw a boy dressed in shorts, a sleeveless shirt and sandals being chased by a kid wearing a parka.

I can empathize with and relate to both of their Moms.

Signing off to tend to several of the priorities that I've procrastinated about.

*giggle*

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Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Which one are you?

Back from a very intense learning opp (see previous post).

Lots to reflect on.

Lots to kick into high gear!

Great personal growth on my part.

(You may or may not see it, but - trust me - it's there.)

The group will get together again in May 2011 - in BC. Yay!

One of the exercises we did to discover who we are as individuals included TRUE COLOURS.

Not as in Cyndi Lauper or Phil Collins, but rather the personality test.

I admit, I've taken this test twice before.

The first was back when I was a newlywed.

I was a blue.

The second time, I was in school full time at The Salvation Army's CFOT.

I was a gold.

Last week was my third time taking the test.

I was equally blue and gold, with orange being next, followed by a low green.

Interesting!

Also interesting is that my hubby is green with a high orange.

Yep.

Complete opposites, weez be. ;)

Works well for us, tho!

Especially in ministry, which we do together. As a team.

Have you taken the test?

Did taking the test then create in you the necessity to constantly analyze every person you have ever met since the moment you were birthed????

Me too. *snicker*

So...

What colour are you?

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

A Bigger Update

With being in school for 7.5 hours each day this week and much reading to do in the evenings, I haven't had a lot of time to record all that has been happening. I'm going to attempt an update, so that I don't lose the memory and info of these past few days...

First of all, Jas & I have really been enjoying the Human Diversity intensive we are taking this week. So much Canadian history that I can't recall ever being taught back in public or high school! We've been given much to ponder as well as new and more clearly defined/sharpened ministry options within the many different cultures of our great land. I will likely comment more on the class at the end (this Friday). It has, quite often, been very emotional for many of us.

I would be crazy not to make mention of the General's impromptu visit with Jason in our apartment last Saturday night. I won't go into all the details, but having an Army officer stand in the flower beds outside our apartment at 10:00 p.m., knock on the window and through the screen, proclaim to a shorts-clad Jason, "Put on some long pants, the General wants to come in!" will likely be one, if not THE, highlights of our time here at CFOT. In a nutshell, in approx. 10 minutes Jason gave a tour of our apartment, had his physique admired by the General (possible future ministry as his bodyguard?) and was recommended for the "Order of the Founder." LOL (Of course, I missed the WHOLE thing - taking Dawn home who had been babysitting for us earlier!) I just thank the good Lord that I had cleaned the apartment the night before...

On a similar note (?), tomorrow (Thurs.) we are off to the Circus with the kidlets and then FRIDAY IS THE BIG DAY! To answer the popular question from family members and friends, we seriously haven't a CLUE where we will be going. We're feeling anxious, but there is a sweet peace knowing that God is the One in control.

Where He leads me I will follow...

Preaching Like the Prophets

I wonder what would happen if our preaching today resembled that of the prophets, particularly of the Old Testament? Take for example, the Prophet of Amos revisited:

"Listen, you people of Winnipeg! Listen to this funeral song I am singing: "The virgin Winnipeg has fallen, never to rise again! She lies forsaken on the ground, with none to raise her up." The Sovereign Lord says: "When one of your cities sends a thousand men to battle, only a hundred will return. When a town sends a hundred, only ten will come back alive." Now this is what the Lord says to the family of Winnipeg: "Come back to me and live!"

Not a whole lot of seeker-sensitivity happenin' there. I joke, but the message really is the same isn't it? Things that make ya go "Hmmmm."

On a side note to Amos, Blaise has a cold. The kids have done SO well fighting off getting sick, especially with so much flu going around. I'm keeping my eye on him tonight as he was a little warm before bed. Bria is doing well, very active as usual, but happy and healthy. Mommy took her to see "Charolotte's Web" yesterday (a classic from Mommy's childhood - Julia Roberts does an excellent job as the voice of Charolotte). It was nice to spend some girl time together while Jas & Blaise did their guy thing back home. It's bittersweet that they're growing up, but I am enjoying each new phase that arrives along with it. Bria is full of questions lately, especially as she's putting letters together and trying to read signs we pass on the way to/from school. Today's drive home included an in-depth conversation (both ways!) about the purpose of the taxi. Good stuff!

Mommy's New 'Do

This morning I splurged and had my hair done. Gotta love a good hair washing at the salon! So here's my pic, for ya'll who say I'm camera shy.

"Doodoodoodoo...I wear my sunglasses at night..."

Good Monday Afternoon

We had a good morning at school, first with a guest for our Field Class - Greg Armstrong - who gave an informative, realistic and energizing speak on discipleship & evangelism. Our second class, Spiritual Formation, featured a panel of SA Officers speaking on personal and corporate holiness, which have been hot topics of that class. The panel included Major Al Hoeft, Major Brian Slous, Major Cathy Harris and Major Susan Van Duinen. It's always great to hear others share their spiritual journey.

This afternoon I've been working on tomorrow's Bible Study as well as my sermon that is due on Thursday. It is on the 2nd miracle that Jesus performed, when he healed the government official's son. I've picked this portion of scripture because I've never written a sermon on a miracle story before. It's stretching me, but I'm finding quite a bit of "judgment & grace" - the techy stuff behind sermons.

I have an appointment to get my hair done in the morning, something I've been meaning to do for a few weeks now. I'm off to pick up Blaise from the sitter next door. Thanking God for some quiet time to myself this afternoon.

Lest We Forget

We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument.

This statement was taken from the Veterans Affairs Canada website.

The Cadets are off early this morning to participate in a very important Remembrance Day Memorial Service at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, downtown. We're to provide the musical prelude and postlude, including singing both our sessional songs. Jason looks so handsome in his full uniform - including his hat!

I'm home with Bria, who has been up for most of the night with an ear ache. Blaise seems to be feeling better this morning, although he's still very clingy. Why is it that just as one gets better, the other comes down with something? Ugh. That minute of silence at 11 a.m. might be a bit of a challenge here this morning. She keeps telling me she's hungry, but complains that her ear hurts when she chews. I remember that feeling from ear aches when I was younger. And, apparently, Jason was the King of Ear Aches years ago. I've given her Tylenol and a cloth-covered hot water bottle. Seems to be working for now.

My thoughts are with the Cadets on this special morning - and, of course, the veterans and their families.

Update on Bria's Ears

Bria saw the specialist today - a very nice lady Dr. with the cleanest office I have ever seen. She didn't get sedated, but she didn't get her ears drained either. She had a hearing test, which she failed, but that could be based on her age as they say 5 years+ are more apt to follow the instructions correctly. To make a long story short, we've been given new drops to put in her ears each night for 2 weeks and are scheduled to do a more formal hearing test done at the hospital in 2 weeks (an easier procedure that they do on children 4 and under). AFTER ALL THAT, if there isn't any improvement, she'll go under anesthetic at the hospital to have them drained. Ugh. Your continued prayers are appreciated! She's getting extra hugs tonight. ;)

Take It to the Lord In Prayer

These are the things on my heart tonight.

Please pray for...

* Jose's sister who is 21 and was recently hit by a car; we've been receiving updates from Mom & Dad back home; Jose is my neice, Michelle's hubby
* Bria, as we take her to the ear specialist in the hospital tomorrow; she'll likely be sedated so that they can drain both ears
* Jason, who has been battling a flu/cold for the past 48 hours
* stamina for our family as we get through schoolwork and move into our Christmas field placements
* that everyone in Winnipeg has a warm place to sleep tonight

I'm thankful for...

* this blog, MY spiritual journal (thank-you Comm. Nelson) so that I have a record of practically every day spent here at CFOT since day one, to reflect back on later in life & witness God's power and provision in my life
* good friends that are true example's of Christ's love to us (you know who you are); you are our family away from home
* the opportunity to LEARN, even though we constantly complain about the workload
* other Moms who struggle with balance, being in 3 different places at 1 time, who are kind enough to share their tips & tricks with me and ease my guilt when I "just gotta say no!"
* the anticipation of Christmas; the celebration of Christ's birth AND time spent with my Mom & Dad

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta...

...close the books, turn off the computer, go outside and BUILD A SNOWMAN!

A Different Kind of Homesick

Jas and I are just hanging out here in the apartment tonight - kids in bed - and we're listening to some good old "Hope" music and getting teary as we reflect and reminisce. Specifically, the song "Enough" by Chris Tomlin brought us back to the awesome worship we've experienced in our home church, Hope CC. Things change. People come and go. But, memories of God's mighty presence and that awesome, initial "falling in love with the Lord" always remain. It fuels us with anticipation of all that He has yet prepared for all of us! So we called up some old friends (sorry for the sappy message, D & V) but alas they weren't home. We'll talk to you guys soon - keep the faith, God's more than enough for all of us.

Three Important Things

#1) Thank you to whomever it was that did something incredibly nice (and anonymous) for our family today. We're still trying to figure out who it was, but feel very warm, fuzzy and appreciative just the same. And thanks to Jimmy V. for the chocolates left by our door. Gosh, we feel loved! We'll be sure to pay it forward.

#2) Our PDI forms have been handed in. AAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh! For those who aren't familiar with PDI forms, they relate to our first appointment.

#3) Our Evaluation Meeting with the Principal and Staff Advisor has been set for Nov. 2nd. Again, AAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhh! We'll meet together to discuss our goals, progress and other important "stuff."

Gut Prayers

Good gravy, I yack a lot online. I just finished a long email to a friend I haven't chatted with in awhile and went on to clean out my "sent" folder. 4 pages later, I'm fresh as a daisy.

This afternoon was week #2 of Bible Study at HPT. Another great time of fellowship and learning about gratitude, worship, prayer and God's faithfulness - this time studying Psalm 18. I still think it's awesome that I get to do this and it actually counts as field hours! It's such a great time for me to reconnect with God and His word. I always leave feeling like I've received a personal message from the Lord pertaining to one or more areas of my day-to-day life. Today I came away with a new outlook on prayer. We often think our prayers should be nicely worded; "cut flower prayers" as Eugene Peterson (author of "The Message") puts it. In realty, one just has to refer to the Psalms - which are actual guidelines for prayer - and see just how messy, intense and brutually honest prayer should be! I'm calling them gut prayers. I think we tend to have gut prayers when things aren't going well or we're asking for something. Why shouldn't we have thankful gut prayers? Other than after Thanksgiving dinner, that is? (Pun intended.)

The kids are in bed, Jason's at guitar lessons with Jimmy and I'm about to vacuum up popcorn (a.k.a. makeshift confetti) that is all over the living room rug. Ugh. Sometimes ya just gotta let the kids have their fun.

Monday's Mumblings

We had a busy weekend. The Franklin Graham Festival was in town. We didn't get to all of the events we wanted to, but the KidzFest on Saturday morning was very well done! Blaise was in awe, having never been surrounded by sooooo many people with soooo many lights and sooooo much loud music. Bria was a bit more antsy, as I think she would have preferred to have actually been ON STAGE with Rebecca St. James as one of her little back-up dancers. Jas & I had two assignments to complete for today and thanks to some very good friends here at CFOT, we were able to borrow a 2nd laptop for a few hours so that we didn't have to waste time taking turns using ours. (I'm sure missing having a desktop right now!) This seems to be a much calmer week than last, which will give us some time to get a head start on some assignments due in November. I'm looking forward to Bible Study tomorrow afternoon and on Wed. we're attending the 55+ monthly luncheon at Heritage Park Temple. I'm working on their new web blog, too but it isn't ready to be revealed yet. Oh, I bought myself a new winter coat since the zipper was broken on my old one and would have likely cost big bucks to get replaced. I loved that old coat, though! Thank goodness for Wallymart at its bargoon plus size coats. Well, there's a little update on our exciting life (hahaha). Now I'm off to spend some time with the kidlets before their bedtime. Bria's wanting to play her Dora matching game with me. Jason's out doing prison ministry tonight with a few of the other cadet guys. Catch ya's later!

Tuesday's Gone With the Wind

This afternoon we had a delicious lunch at The Shirran's home and then I was off to lead my first Bible study at the church. It's a study on Worship, based on the Psalms (now open to men as well as women, whom I initially thought was the target audience). It went pretty well. Nine people attended, which was more than I had thought. We're a chatty bunch, which is great. Although I was quite nervous going in, I left feeling very encouraged. I think I will learn and grow from this experience in a HUGE way, not only from the study itself but from those who attend. Today we focused on Psalms 22 & 18 which are filled with David's words of thankfulness and praise for God's love & faithfulness in times of trouble. Amen!

Tomorrow Wendy Crabb & I are leading the Home League. The topic we've chosen is "Celebrating Friendship." We have a few neat things planned for the ladies.

The kids are doing well and are in bed. Jason's out to hockey and I have a paper to finish for our Pentateuch course that's due tomorrow - YIKES! Please send Coke & pizza my way as I will no doubt be burning the midnight oil on this one.

There is snow in tonight's forecast. Eeeeeeeeek!

Sunday

I think our service went well at Golden West Lodge this morning. Such sweet people. If you ever want to contemplate the meaning of life, visit a nursing home. I looked around the room today and thought about the wealth of knowledge surrounding me. Oh the stories they could share! Mark Crabb preached about being content, a concept most (if not all) seemed to identify with as they sat contentedly and listened to the service. The building itself is very cozy and everyone looks well taken care of. I spoke with some of the ladies. Moms like to talk about their children, no matter what age. ;) I'm looking forward to going back there.

Major Julie preached an awesome sermon from Revelation during the morning service. Tough passage, but she really made it come alive. The kids were squirrelly, as usual, but it's nice that they're able to go out during the service so that Jas & I can listen. They seem to have a good time. Bria came back with treats today, so that would definitely make her happy. ;) I had a couple ladies tell me they'll be at the Bible study on Tuesday, which is encouraging.

It's a beautiful day out - we're hoping to get to the park later. Chef Jason is creating one of his Italian dishes so I'd better get to setting the table now!

St. Norbert's Market

Just got back from visiting the St. Norbert's outdoor farmer's market just outside of Winnipeg. We bought some peaches & cream corn and red potatoes (found a neat recipe for them in one of our cookbooks). The place was packed, but it was nice to walk around outside in the fresh air. It's a warm, sunny day here today. Afterwards we went out for lunch and then back home so Daddy & Blaise could have a Saturday snooze.

Later today we've been invited over to Dawn & Geoff's new apartment. Dawn used to care for Blaise last year and is onto to other employment experiences now but will still look after our kidlets from time to time for us in the evening. They've hired a new caregiver and she starts next week. I can't believe school starts in a few days! Bria is excited about going back to see her friends at daycare. Blaise will have Zion to play with this year, so that will be good. Jas & I have our binders and pencil cases all ready to go like good little students. ;)

Blaise is now awake from his nap so I'd better sign off...

Wednesday

An update on a the last couple of days...

Monday
In celebration of the week of prayer for Christian unity (held this time each year), I attended a service held at Weston Corps. I was able to participate by reading the scripture, which just happened to be what I've been assigned to preach my first sermon on in Homiletics (when Jesus washed His disciples' feet). It was a wonderful service, represented by various denominations coming together. One of the songs we sang was, Larson/Gowan's "They shall come from the east, they shall come from the west" which is such a beautiful song. Jason had his prison ministry, so he was unable to attend. He had another good meeting with the inmates there and is starting to get to know them more. He's really enjoying that experience, but will likely cut down his hours there to compensate for time needed at the Weston Corps between now until June.

Tuesday
We had Majors Karen & Al Hoeft over for coffee/dessert this evening. Major Karen is the officer (pastor) of the Weston Corps and Major Al has a separate appointment in Public Relations at Divisional Headquarters here in Winnipeg. Prior to their current appointments, they were stationed in Yellowknife, NWT for 12 years. We've really enjoyed getting to know them better (lots of laughs!) and we're starting to gain a better sense of where we can be used at Weston. Jason has expressed an interest at developing some sort of men's fellowship program, since there isn't anything like that at present. I have offered to help out with the PowerPoint presentation during the service, as right now they're using an overhead projector. We're also planning on taking the youth of the church to an upcoming Christian band concert at the beginning of February and will more than likely attend Youth Councils with them. Major Al said he will gives us opportunity to observe and participate in some Public Relations events in the next couple of months. It's very exciting to be on the "hands-on" side of ministry and balancing it with a pretty heavy course load this semester will certainly pose it's challenges. Never the less, we're certainly not going to complain about the awesome learning opportunities that God presents us with. At times our schedule has seemed quite intense, but it's all been worth it. And PRAISE THE LORD both kids are back to sleeping through the nights again! haha

Wednesday
Dawn was sick today, so Jason stayed home with Blaise while Bria & I went off to school. We had Salvation Army Theology today, which I had missed last week with Bria being home so I didn't want to miss another one. We're studing the 6th Doctrine of The Salvation Army right now and the theology behind it. We also had Intro. to New Testament, where we're continuing to study The Gospels. We have a multi-chapter reading assignment due next week. The textbook is huge! We figure we'll use it as a coffee table should our 1st quarters not have one. *wink*

Both kids are doing well and Jason and I are managing to keep ahead of our assignments.

Off to review my notes from today's classes and get in a bit of reading. Jason's out to Walmart right now with a few of the guys here. Our kids are toast & milk junkies and we're all out, so that won't go over very well at breakfast time tomorrow! Whenever one of us has to take a trip out, we round up cadets who don't have vehicles to take along with us to give them a chance to get items they might need.

Hope everyone is doing well. I think I have a certain neice celebrating a birthday in the next day or two? Hmmmmm, I wonder who it is? *wink*

A Better Day!

Bria is back to school and had a good day there. Dawn had another little boy to look after today, so Blaise had a friend to play with. Blase was a happy little guy today, despite having the onset of a cold (runny nose - oh joy!). He was giving out lots of hugs to his new friend.

We had a good "Field Chapel" where we focused our prayers on our current placements. After lunch we had Intro. to New Testament where we've been studying The Gospels. Nancy was kind enough to lend me her notes from the classes I missed last week when I was home with Bria.

Dawn is looking after both Bria and Blaise this evening while Jason is doing prison ministry and I'm out at a function at the Weston Corps. I'm just waiting for The Ramsay's to pick me up.

Did everyone vote today????