Obsession... *shrug*

Yesterday I was running errands in the city... and then I realized where I was.... on Regent... what else is close to this area of the city???



STARBUCKS!!

What is with me and this compulsion to buy expensive coffee? Do I enjoy it? Of course, but do I really NEED to spend over $5.00 on ONE cup of coffee??

Does anyone else out there share this same compulsion?? Or am I all alone?

*just to note, my favourite coffee of the season is the Gingerbread Latte... what's yours?? :D

"Captivating" Christmas Celebrations...

WOW! is really all I can say... God is SO AMAZING!!!

ok, so, you're probably wondering why yesterday I posted how I have very little to say and now today I am so excited.... well I'll explain...

Last night was the Ladies Fellowsip Christmas Party at church. This is a time of fellowship, carolling, eating and just having a wonderful time with the women in our church. We also pick "Prayer Sisters". When you fill out the little form to get a prayer Sister, you have the option to have a secret prayer sister or a known prayer sister.... last year I had a secret Sister. And yesterday I met her face to face (for the first time) in the food line, a little while before the gift exchange when she would then know that I was her prayer sister. When they handed out the gifts, I saw them put the gift that I brought in front of her, and shortly after one of the ladies helping pass out the gifts handed me mine. I quickly opened the card on the outside of the bag to find out my Sister's identity... but all that was written was my name... so I looked inside and found another card, as I scanned over it, I saw the name written on the bottom....


It was the same person that I had be praying for this last year... we had had each others names!!
I let out a heartfelt laugh and then (kinda) yelled "Oh my gosh... we had each other!!!"
Then I opened the present to reveal a book that she had purchased for me. It's called "Captivating".

Now... there's a really interesting story behind this book... this past summer when I was working at camp - because of my broken engagement and all that happened following that... I met a wonderful woman of God at Youth Camp named Sue... She was the wife of our guest speaker... but I truly believe that she was a guest speaker as well for the impact she had on my life.
If Sue and I had not kept in touch at all after camp, all I would be able to tell you about her was that she was truly a God-sent angel. She was so awesome and wonderful... not WAS..... IS!
Through the course of stuff that both her and I went through at camp that week, God brought us so close. On one of the nights, God had told her that she needs to share some stuff with the kids and be open and honest. When she was sharing, God was bringing things to my memory that I either needed to repent of, or forgive others for what they had done to me.
After she shared she said that we were going to have a time of prayer for those who wanted. As soon as she sat down, I leaned over and asked her if we could talk... we went outside.... and that was the most incredible night in my life! We talked, prayed, laughed, cried... and it was so nice to share things in my life knowing that she loves me and God loves me and that I'm forgiven and that God gives me the strength to forgive those people in my life that need forgivness.
After we talked (and killed the spider... LOL - long story...) she gave me a list of books that I should read to continue to allow God to help me overcome and heal from the events of the last year...
The first book she wrote was "Captivating"...

So now... jumping ahead to last night... as soon as I opened the book and saw the title, Sue's face immediately jumped into my head... When I arrived home, I emailed her this whole story... only to find out this morning that she had called me last night and left a message on my machine and I missed her... and I totally forgot to check my messages last night...

I find it so amazing how God can be working here in my life, and then put it on Sue's heart (she lives pretty far away from me) that she needs to call me...

Isn't God so AMAZING! He knows what we need even before we even know what we need... that's pretty awesome... Praise God!!!

Thursday's Thoughts

Well, as you can tell it's been quite a while since I last blogged. Not a lot of stuff has happened in my life that requires blogging... Sorry to disappoint any frequent visitors to my blog... LOL

Although there have been some interesting developments in my life as of late, I will just share one of these said developments... I've been looking around for awesome organizations to work with/for after I graduate from college... and I've found a couple. My two main options are Doctors Without Borders and YWAM both of these are AWESOME organizations to be involved with... so as I continue with my education, I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I decide (and God leads) where I should go afterwards.

Stupendous Skating Situations...

Well, due to my wonderful Mother buying my an early Christmas present... I am now the proud owner of these pretty skates!!
Since I acquired them on Saturday... and am unable to actually skate... I need to learn, so what is a girl to do?
Well, THIS girl talked to her friends and a few of them graciously offered to teach her. So today during public skating today, Kyla took me skating... and (according to her) I didn't do too badly...
Yes, I did hang onto the boards, but I did NOT FALL AT ALL!!

So hopefully by the time we have our church Christmas party (in less than 2 weeks) I should be a pretty good skater... (by the grace of God)

I've included 2 pictures of my pretty skates, there will be more to come of me in them... but for now this is what I have...

God bless and goodnight!

Sweet and Scrumptious Saturday

Well, I'm off to an exciting Grey Cup party tomorrow... thanks to my College and Career group at church...

"What am I to bring to a football game party?" you may ask...
Well, I am making...

Chocolate Toffee Trifle

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups milk
6 Crispy Crunch bars, frozen wrapped
2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

Bake the cake in a 13 by 9-inch baking pan according to the package's directions. Pour pudding into a bowl and mix according to directions. Leave bars in wrappers and pound with a hammer to crush.

In a very large pretty Trifle dish or glass bowl, layer in this order:
1/2 the cake cubes
1/2 the pudding
1/2 the whipped cream
1/2 the C.C. bars

Repeat layers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

I am currently making this recipe as I type this, so I will post a picture as soon as it's all assembled...

God bless and enjoy!

Sunny Sunday of a Wacky Weekend

Yes.. I do realize that it is already Monday... but I wanted to use this title...

This weekend was fun... I spent almost the ENTIRE weekend with Lauren... having tonnes of fun and making even more memories!!

But Sunday... that was an UNBELIEVEABLY amazing day...
It started with Lauren coming to church with me, followed by an awesome sermon.
Then around 3:00 I headed to my Grandma's house, my dad was there and we ate supper and then played MANY rounds of UNO... it was a great time.
I was really nervous about seeing my dad and grandma, but the whole way there (it was in Stony Mountain) I was just praying that it would be a good time and that God's hand of wisdom and guidance would be present in our conversation...
It was so awesome... then PJ and Stacy arrived a little later and we continued to play UNO among stories and jokes and much laughter... it was quite an enjoyable evening!
I left my Grandmother's around midnight and got home shortly before 1:00...
When I got home, there was a phone message from a dear friend of mine... We hadn't talked (phone or in person) since August... I miss her so much, but it was so good to talk on the phone with her for almost an hour and just share our hearts with each other. God has such an awesome plan and calling on her life, and I'm so glad to be one of her friends so that I can share in the enjoyment of the journey with her!!

Anyway... it was really good... and I'm still trying to recooperate on all the sleep that I lost this weekend... many late nights, and not much sleeping in...

God bless you all, I hope you all had a great weekend as well!

Xoxo

wonderfly wordy wednesday!

well, i went out last night with a really good friend of mine...
*WINK*
but anyway... in the midst of conversation i said a word that sounded
great in conversation that isn't really (technically) a word.
Ok, so here's the word...

AWKWARDFY

meaning - to make more awkward...

does that make sense??

would you ever use this word in conversation??
let me know!

totally tuesday (thoughts from a scatterbrain)

Do you ever think where you would be if you would have made different choices in life, or if other people's decisions would not have affected you?
I do... quite often, not that I like to dwell on things that are not real, or that are untrue. But sometimes I get so wrapped up in others' decisions that I almost let my own life pass me by!

I am sick of living a life that I am not living!

As some of you may know, and others not, I am a journaler... not journalist.
I write in my journal usually once a day, sometimes more.
If it wasn't for these small books of memories, I think I would have completely transferred over into a reality world, separate from my own...

So, last night as I sat journaling, I flipped back in my journal and read some of my entries as an anticipating bride, longing for my wedding day... then I looked at the page I was writing on, a single girl, unmarried....

The hurts in our lives cut so deep sometimes they seem impossible to forget and move past. Especially when we are constantly faced with our feelings and emotions...

**there is a positive note to all my rambling, just let me get there**

I finished talking about my day, and things that are happening in my life right now, then I heard God's voice, and I flipped to the back of my journal and started writing:

I am a child of God! Perfect in HIS sight and capable of all things through HIS Son! In HIM I find my strength and my identity! With HIS perfect love I have no fear, and HIS grace is enough for me! HIS mercies are new every morning!

How profound... these things that I've heard all my life, becoming truth in my heart and mind!

I pray that these words of truth would be imbeded in all of your hearts and minds as well, and that you would remember that you are a child of the KING! and HE loves you so much! (and so do I) :D

thinking thursday

well, seeing as how that all I've posted so far are some awesome recipes... I thought it was time that my blog and i shared a heart-to-heart...
i know that a number of you have been praying for me through this past spring and summer, and i really think that i am doing better... sometimes other times, i feel like i'm still in the midst of the emotions and hurt and pain... and then i just cry...
the biggest factor in healing is my Saviour... without him, i know i wouldn't have made it this far... HE's so AMAZING!!
i know as my family and friends that you all care about me, and don't get me wrong, i appreciate it SO much... but if you guys care so much... how much MORE does HE care? i mean think about it, HE makes sure the sparrows have enough to eat all through our manitoba winters... if HE can care about a bird... how much more does HE care for me... one HE made in HIS image...
Sometimes it's so hard for me to grasp this foreign concept that i'm made in HIS image... because for so long i pictured GOD as a taskmaster... waiting for me to screw up so HE could hit me with a lightning bolt... but... as i've been learning through my late teens, and now into adulthood... HE actually CARES!!
one testiment to this caring is this summer... i was staying up in the girls dorm, by myself (until you came Beth... and i loved having you there) being by myself often did not provide the escape from my emotions and hurts... so i cried myself to sleep most nights... but this one night as i was laying in my bed, crying, GOD spoke to me and said, "why don't you ask ME to comfort and hold you?"
i continued to lay there and cry... eventually i whispered my prayer, "Father, please hold me"
as i continued to cry i actually felt arms around me. i felt like HE had scooped me up like you would hold a baby to soothe them when they cry... that's how HE held me, and rocked me until i fell asleep...
GOD is so awesome... i love HIM so very much!

GOD bless each one of you! be encouraged... HE cares for you!!
Psalms 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7 are God's written testiment to this!

love ya

MMMM Monday....

Sweet 'N' Sour Spare Ribs

4 lbs ribs or stewing beef
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup vinegar
2/3 cup cold water
1 Tbsp soya sauce
1 cube beef boullion (or 1 tsp.)
1/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup pineapple bits

boil ribs and salt for 30 minutes, until tender. Drain and blot with paper towel.

combine brown sugar and cornstarch, add vinegar, cold water and soya sauce. Allow it to heat throughout.

dissolve boullion cube in boiling water. add onion, sugar, and pineapple juice. mix well then add ribs and simmer until meat is glazed (about 15 mins), stirring. serve over boiled rice.

this is one of our favourite family recipes... but we do like it more saucy than the recipe says... I usually 4x the sauce recipe so that there's always extra sauce for the rice.

(I will be posting a picture soon... it just won't load right now!)

Munching Monday

aka - Meal of the week



Potato and Cheese Soup

brown in large pan:
1/2 pound bacon (chopped small)
1 onion (diced)
1 clove garlic (optional)

Keep temperature on medium and really allow for browning.

Mix in bowl:
6 cups mashed potatoes (leftovers work great)
1 cup milk
1 cup water

Once bacon and onions are well cooked, add potato mixture and stir well while heating.
Add:
2 tsp parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup peas (or corn or carrots)

Once soup has simmered, keep on low temperature until serving, just before serving mix in 2 cups shredded cheese (mozza or cheddar)

This is a really easy recipe... let me know if you make it... I want to know if you do!!
God bless.

This is the beginning

Well, this is me... here on my new blog...
I know that I do already have a myspace... but I just use that for networking... this is a place where I can share my thoughts, prayers and dreams in a safe environment...

So, right now I am too tired to post anything of great or grand importance to my life... but...

I'm getting my wisdom teeth out... EEK!!
LOL
should be a good time, I'll keep you posted on the consult and the whole proceedure...

God bless