Day 29: Someplace I'd like to visit

Usually in the winter, I would pick a nice and warm location as my destination of choice.

However, I think today I would like to go visit a castle - a real castle - not a fake one like Cinderella's at Disneyland

I want to go to one like this...

I would love to explore the vast rooms, curl up on an old leather wing back chair in front of a huge, crackling fire.

I would love to learn the history of the occupants of these glorious homes.

I would like to be a princess - or maybe a queen - just for a while

Day 28: A skill I'd like to learn

knitting

like alicia

she's amazing!

Day 27: Myself, one year ago

I was exhausted

The day before I and my team of eager Colombia travelers, had made over 200 apple pies.

We peeled, chopped and sweetened hundreds (about 800) granny smith apples

I measured pounds of flour, lard, salt, water and vinegar

My hands blended giant bowls of pastry until my hands ached

We rolled out 400 crusts and assembled delicious pies.

In all we raised over $2000 that we in turn were able to buy tables full of school supplies, toys and other essentials for the people we have grown to love in Bogota.

I was exhausted

But it was worth it!

Day 26: Something I am looking forward to

There are so many things on my "I can hardly wait for" list
* Christmas
* Colombia
* Joseph
* Surgery  (not!)

but you have heard so much of all these, so I will tell you about our plans for summer holidays.

ROAD TRIP!!

Dan and I are starting to talk about taking a long vacation with Eleanor.  I have started to make a list of the places that I want to go
   * Mount Rushmore
   * Grand Canyon
   * Las Vegas
   * The Redwood Forest
   * Oregon coast
   * North Cascades

It will be a wonderful trip - top down - pedal to the medal

Can't wait!!

Day 25: The contents of my purse

* wallet - from Colombia - coolest.wallet.ever!
* prescription sunglasses
* kleenex (one gently used - one pack of new)
* TD Canada trust pen & pink mechanical pencil
* medicine  (Aleve, Advil, Excedrin, Advil Cold & Sinus, Rolaids, Gravol, Halls)
* a lighter (no I don't smoke)
* hairbrush
* nail clipper
* lipstick x 2
* 2 hair elastics
* disposable tooth brush
* dental floss
* Pink Sugar roll on perfume
* hand cream
* "lady supplies"
* Icebreakers Frost breath mints
* Trident Vitality gum - best.gum.ever - only available in the USA
* receipts from my latest trip to Montana
* Victoria Secret coupon book

But really - who cares what's IN the purse when you have such a fabulous purse to fill!

This lovely little lady is called "Lizzy" because it feels like a lizzard.  No, not a snake - a lizzard.  If it felt like a snake I would not have come within 10 feet of it.

She is created by Marc Ecko and she is wonderful.  She tends to turn into a bit of a black hole for my stuff inside, but who cares when you are so incredibly beautiful!

She completes me....

I really love purses.  Not long ago I realized why.  A purse never judges you if you are up a few pounds, like a pair of jeans do.  Jeans will declare to the world, "Hey girl!  You packin' on the pounds!  I'm not even going to do up, and furthermore - here's a nice muffin top to boot!"

A purse would never say such things.  She just waits in the closet until she is needed for a new season or to complete the perfect outfit.  When you pick her up, she just snuggles up nice and close under your arm and is just happy.

The perfect friend...

Day 24: Something that means a lot to me

I would have to say that the people in my life mean the very most to me.  I am pretty sure that I could live with out any possession, but to live without the ones I dearly love - that would be impossible to survive.

So - something that means a lot to me is Lucy.

Photo by Ron Nickel Photography

Lucy is just over 2 years old and has been with me since she was 10 weeks old.  After Alyssa and Brandon were married, and Riley moved to Red Deer, I was feeling a little bit of the empty nest syndrome.  Even Dexter had moved with Lys, so it was pretty quiet around the house.

We have never been a "dogless" family - since 4 months after Dan and I were married, so it really didn't feel complete without a little mutt in the house.

About a month after the kids were gone, I started to Kijiji puppies.  I really wanted a mini Yorkie.  There is a lady in town that has one that is so incredibly sweet so that was my new dog of choice.

Then I found Lucy.

I called the number, talked to the guy from Spruceview and made arrangement to come and meet her.  I walked in the door to MANY dogs.  These people had at least 10 dogs in their house - but were only selling this one.

She had been purchased by a couple - the husband buying a puppy for his wife to keep her company while he was on the road as a trucker.  Catastrophe struck them when she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away just days after finding it.  Her husband couldn't keep this little girl, since he was never home, so he brought her back to the people that he bought her from.

Lucy and I made an instant connection.  She wasn't a very frisky little puppy.  It almost seemed like she was affected by this sad turn of events in her very early life.  She walked across the kitchen and curled up on my lap and fell asleep - like it was where she belonged.

I was hooked.

I pulled out the wad of cash and she was mine.

She is better than prozac on a bad day.  Never has she not been completely overjoyed to see me come in the door.  She is my greatest cheer leader.  She has licked away my tears, snuggled her toasty warm body next to me, warned me of impending stranger danger, and been a true friend.

Next to humans - she is just the very best.

Day 23: Eight things you didn't know about me

I am pretty sure that some of you will know some/few/all of these things - my life is basically an open book to most...hence the blog

1)  I have a strawberry birthmark on my right shin

2)  I have a debilitating fear of snakes...like seriously

3)  I have been pregnant five times

4)  I don't have a favorite colour, but I don't really like purple very much

5)  I have only seen one Star Wars movie, one Lord of the Rings movie, and one Star Trek movie - but have seen every Harry Potter movie and Twilight movie to date.

6)  I memorize lines in the shower

7)  I don't like eating most things that ever lived in an ocean

8)  Today my weight is.... something that you still don't know  :)

Day 22: Someplace I have traveled

Out of all the places that I have traveled - this is one of my most favorites, which is why I keep going back.

Colombia!  


I love this place so much.  The people - the culture - the beauty

It has become my second home.

In 78 days I will be there again.  It can't come quickly enough!!

 Colombia...here I come!!

Day 21: Something I could never tire of

easy...

Pinterest.

If you don't know what that is, you are missing out big time!  I discovered Pinterest through my friends that I strive to be just as cool as  (Makiko, Erin, Alicia)  I was on for about an hour and I was hooked.   


You can find the coolest ideas, most yummy recipes, cute pictures, funny sayings and wise words on there.  Things like this...

When I am feeling a little beat up by life's circumstances, I will often come to Pinterest for a bit of a distraction.  I never leave disappointed.  

Day 20: A childhood anecdote

As a child, growing up in "pre-trib" home, I was always reminded that I needed to be ready when Jesus came back to take His children to heaven.  I was taught it could be any time at all but it was definitely going to happen.

At the time I had a sweet dog named Tussen.  I think it was about the 5th "Tussen's" we had - but I really loved this little mutt.

I began to ponder the thought, "What will happen to Tussen if my whole family is taken up with Jesus?  He will be all alone with no one to feed him and he will die".  The thought actually kept me up at night and I remember asking my Mom about it, only to hear the reply, "You will be in heaven, so you won't even think about Tussen back here on earth."

Well, I did NOT believe that - so I found a friend at school that I know didn't go to Sunday School, and decided that she would be my answer.  I told her that one day - and it could be very soon - I and lots of other people could vanish into thin air.  I then asked her that when it happens, if she could please come and feed my beloved Tussen.  She asked me where I would be going.  I told her I was going to heaven.  She then asked why she wouldn't be going to heaven, to which I plainly replied, "Because you don't go to Sunday School so you will get left behind."  (see?  I even gave Tim LaHay his book title long ago!!)

She freaked out.  To the point of going home and telling her mom, which in turn called my mom.  I was reprimanded for my tactics of securing a caretaker for my dog - and I think I even got grounded for it.

Funny thing - I still think about Lucy getting left, so I keep her dog food on a low shelf so that she can get it easily...

just in case...

Day 19: A silly self portrait

a few of my "alter egos"

Day 18: What I wore today

 Yes - this is what I wore today...

well at least from 6 pm until about now anyways.

For the past 6 years I have been involved with the Three Hills Arts Academy.  It is a wonderful little organization that basically was formed when Prairie decided to ax their fine arts program.

I have mostly directed the spring musicals, but once in a while I get to be on the stage instead of in the booth.

For this year's Fall fundraiser we did a Murder mystery called Mousetrap by Agatha Christie.  It is a delightful tale of twists and turns, but results in the untimely death of dear Mrs. Boyle - played by moi...

It was great fun to work again with the amazing talent that this little town holds.

I can hardly wait to start in on the next project!!

Day 17: My Family

I know - I talk about my kids and husband all the time.  Naturally one would think then, that this blog would be about them.

wrong!

Today I dedicate to those that I first called "family"...  The Hansons

I was born 6th in a line of 7 children to a pair of PBI grads that were challenged to "change the world" back in the 40's.

Their "world" was churches - Bow Island, New Westminster, Calgary, Sorrento, and Three Hills.  In each of those places, they did change the world.  Dad's ministries were blessed over and over and as a family we witnessed what a life sold out for serving Him would profit.

Eternal rewards.

Today my Dad is in a room in the University of Alberta Hospital.  His frail body worn out from the years of life on this earth.

He wants to go to heaven.
He wants to be with his dearest treasure.
He wants to be rid of this tired old shell.

But he waits.  Not quite the right time...yet

And we wait with him.  This family that believes in
    * hope
    * joy
    * love
    * grace
    * forgiveness
    * faith
    * God


This is our legacy.

And when that day comes, we will not be sitting around a lawyer's desk, waiting to hear about the fortune we will inherit.

Our inheritance is much more valuable.  It is the kind that's found in Matthew 6 - the kind that

"moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal"

The eternal kind

So what does that look like in real life?

It's standing shoulder to shoulder with each other when we go through real life...with
   * hope
   * joy
   * love
   *grace
   * forgiveness
   * faith
   * God

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places

Surely, I have a delightful heritage!

Psalm 16:6

Day 16: Someone that inspires me

I have seen this day coming for some time now and thought and pondered long and hard about inspiration lately.

I wear a ring that says    * inspire * uplift * renew *   


Those words are goals for my life and how I react with others that God puts in my path from day to day.

But who does this for me?

In my reflections of the MANY people that have positive influences on my life, I have come to this one person.  She is not someone that many would expect - but on careful examination, it is easy to see why she inspires me.

She is beautiful - but her beauty is so much more than a pretty face.  It reaches to the depths of her soul.

Her heart is one that beats with Jesus'.  She shows her compassion for the hurt and broken - for the girl that has just found out that she is pregnant and all alone - for the family that has lost hope - for the child that has nothing

She has a deep love for her family.  Her husband and three boys never question the intensity of that love.  The rest of us have known her to "be there" anytime, anyplace, anywhere, and at any cost.

She is talented.  God has blessed her with a creative streak that is evident in her home, her client's hair, her fabulous cakes, her crazy skits, and her awesome parties.  The things that she touches are covered with the fingerprints of love and care.

She understands grace.  She has had her share of hard stuff, but has chosen to accept the grace that only the Father could give her, the forgiveness that Jesus provided, and the life that is Spirit guided.

I am blessed to have her in my family.

I love you Stace!

Day 15: Some style inspiration for the season

Stars

I am fascinated by those bright, shiny orbs in the sky

A few years ago, I decided to start incorporating them into the decor of my house.  Christmas is one of the best times to really go nuts on them.  Here are a few of the ones that shine in my home...