A new job

Recent changes in our lives......I just started a new job. I am a Planning Analyst for the RCMP. God does work in incredible ways and I actually got this job back in November, but had to go through an intense Security Clearance process. I was offered two jobs on the same day. It was kind of funny, as I had been praying pretty hard for a job and then I got two. At first I was really confused and didn't know what to do, but then clarity came. One of the jobs was an Assignment position for 4 months and the other job was an indeterminate position, but was conditional subject to my Security Clearance going through. So I accepted both. I took the Assignment while I waited for the permanent one to be finalized.

I was just on assignment with Service Canada College and it was an amazing experience. I was a learning consultant and had the opportunity to re-design modules of courses, design workshops, etc. LOVED IT! I loved the work, the people, my boss, the atmosphere, everything. I learned so much and accomplished a lot in that short period that I was there. It was really hard to leave, however i need to be somewhere permanently.

So now I am with the RCMP in my new, permanent position. It has been a hard couple of weeks. It is always a bit stressful, overwhelming, etc. when starting a new position, but this was even more so. I now understand why I had to go through the 'security clearance' that I did. The information that I use for my job and that passes through my office, my desk, is eye opening.

We don't have TV, I don't read the newspapers, except for when I really want to know something and search it out online (which hasn't happened a lot lately). Now I need to know this stuff and am surrounded by it. I went from Service Excellence to Crime in Saskatchewan. I can't even talk to my husband about some of this stuff. There have been a few times this past week, where I have just had to stop, take a break and go talk to God, or I probably would have had a break down in the office. Some of the things affect me hard, I don't know why, but I have really come to realize how dark and evil this world is and how much we need God, we need Jesus. If I ever hear anyone tell me that we humans are not sinful beings (oh yes I have heard that a lot), I would laugh in their face and tell them to open their eyes. I understand that we live in Canada and it is no where near as corrupt, dangerous, crime ridden, etc, as some other countries (believe me I know), but we still have so much work to do.

I can say that it is a very interesting job and that I know there will never be a dull moment. I also have great bosses, colleagues and they really promote an atmosphere that is light and full of fun. Plus there are perks like a couple of gyms (free), walking tracks, depot which has amazing cheap food (it is almost worth it for me to buy my lunch rather than bring one as it is so cheap) and it is 5 minutes down the road from our place. I can walk or ride my bike once the sidewalks clear.

Happy Friday and I am feeling pretty blessed to have a job, even though it has been a difficult transition.

Here is a picture I am sharing--totally un-related to this post, but it cracks me up! We took this when we were in Calgary in February. I love the expressions on all of their faces. These 4 little monkeys! :o)

And the Winners Are......

Thanks for the great comments again! I have a few new songs that I need to check out now. I apologize for being late with this (should have been posted yesterday). We are going through some big transitions (especially me) this week.

Crystal and Casey, I left your names in.....it's only fair! :o)

However the winners are:

1.) Faith
2.) Aunty Elaine

I will mail them out to you. Faith I do need your address though, so I will email you. Aunty Elaine I have your address and will mail it to you (perfect timing for your new grandson coming soon)!

Congrats ladies and thanks again for all of the comments!!

Just had to share

I haven't been great at posting lately. To be honest, it has been really hard to even want or desire to get onto the computer. I work all day long on the computer and when I get home, all I want to do is go through a technology cleanse. Does that make sense?

I also haven't been taking that many photos, but John has been taking a few, so that has helped. I did go out and get the kids some new art supplies a month ago (I know--a month ago) and we had a good time 'painting' some valentines, and everything else they could find to 'paint'.

What is funny about our paint shopping experience, was that I really wanted to introduce them to finger paints. I thought that they would both really love them. Well, you will see that Genesis loved them, but Zech was not into finger painting at all. We had to buy him his own little paint set with a brush. I bought it thinking that once he saw how much fun finger painting was, he would convert. That was a month ago and he has yet to try finger painting.

It then dawned on me, how much their painting styles reflect their personalities. I have to laugh as to why I didn't see this earlier?? Zech HATES having dirty hands. He hates getting his hands or fingers dirty. He has been a super clean eater and there is no way that he would ever grab handfuls of cake or food and shove it into his mouth. So the thought of putting sticky, gooey paint on his fingers, probably revolted him. Duh mom!

Genesis on the other hand is completely the opposite. She is such a messy eater and loves to get her hands dirty and then rub it in her hair. She couldn't get enough paint on her little fingers. It then took a turn and finger painting became body painting. I took her shirt off because I couldn't find a clean bib and didn't have a smock to put on her. Well this is what happened.

Wonderful Wednesday

Another exciting giveaway, that has even more of a personal connection for me. This week I am giving away two Diva Wipes and two Crinkle Charms. So if any of you are or knows of someone having a baby, these are great gifts! You can also find "bellajane" on facebook to order and see the different styles, colours, etc. I have given a few Diva Wipes out as gifts and they are always a big hit!

When we moved to Airdrie just after Genesis was born, we were really seeking community. We had moved around a bit and were going through some pretty rough times and just needed to find and build some solid community. Thankfully we already had a few people in the area that we knew and then we got connected with a church quite quickly. We signed up for a Bible Study group, one that had children close in age to ours and we were so incredibly blessed by this amazing group. It was definitely challenging as there were 10 kids 8 years and under. We tried having the kids around, and found that we never got anything accomplished. We hired a babysitter for the night for all of the kids and still it was hard, some families got babysitters for their kids, but we never could because we didn't really have anyone. Nonetheless, we all understood and we were all in the same position. So we worked through and we had a wonderful time fellow-shipping. Not only that, we knew that we could always count on this group for prayer, support, understanding. God truly blessed us. We then had to make the move and it was so hard. We loved Airdire and the area. We loved our church, we loved our community, we loved our Bible Study group and all of our friends that we had in the area. We also loved that we were still relatively close to family too.

The wonderful thing about technology is that we are still a part of this group. We Skype in every second week and we participate with our Bible Study group. They have helped us so much this year, not only with prayer, but with some other support at times when we really needed a miracle and there they were. Incredible! The other thing that we have really, really appreciated about this group is the raw openness and honesty. Everyone is so open about everything and it is rare to see that and rare to have that trust with one another. We are truly blessed.

With that being said, one of the families from our group is the Buhler family! They have three boys (who Zech absolutely adores and loves to play with and a little princess only two months younger than Genesis). We have had a lot of wonderful times with them and they have had an amazing impact on us as a family. They are an inspiration and they have really helped us (whether they know it or not).

Christina started a company with her girlfriend called "bellajane" selling Diva Wipes and Crinkle Charms. I absolutely love their products and it was so hard to try and pick some for the giveaway! I also really wanted to support her. There are some big, exciting changes happening to their family and I know that they too could use the prayers and support.

Christina is a stay-at-home Mom to her 4 wonderful kids, she also has her Children's Ministry Degree. She is amazing with kids and my kids absolutely adore her. She is also from the States and made her way to the frozen north to be with her wonderful hubby Ben. I have always been inspired by them, as I wonder how they do it with 4 kids. We have had some great conversations with them and there was one in particular that had a huge impact on me and really helped me.

We were talking about worship and singing. You see I used to hate singing, I would mouth the words or at one point I was told to mouth 'watermelon' because it would actually seen like I was pronouncing the words to the song. So a lot of times I sat in church mouthing 'watermelon'. When I gave my heart to the Lord, something changed. I now belt it out (even though I am so out-of-tune) and I am moved by songs (plus I actually listen to the words of the songs--something my hubby taught me). Then I had kids, and I had to sing. Zech will ask me to sing and then tells me how nice I 'sound'--he really is too nice and generous with his words, but I don't want my kids to be embarrassed, so I have to suck it up and sing as silly and loud as I can so that I show them confidence. Now if any of you know the musical talent that runs deep in my family, you will see that this 'gene', this talent seriously went missing when it came my turn.

Anyways, we attend church and some people get really into the music and lift their hands to the Lord, some have tears streaming down their face, and some even clap. This is so foreign to me and it kind of makes me uncomfortable. We were talking about worship this one evening and the Buhler's were sharing a favourite artist (Kari Jobe--she sings my absolute favaourite song and I didn't know it---the Revelation Song) who they were going to the States to see LIVE. So Awesome! I then shared my fear of singing and really worshiping to the Lord with them. Christina shared what she told the kids when she was in the Children Ministry and it really had a profound effect on me (I will clap now and not feel so embarrassed and inhibited when I feel moved to raise my hands--not at the dancing part yet--I think my husband would check me into a mental hospital if I started that-lol). Christina said that when she worships and sings, she thinks of God as her Father (which of course He is), but when she raises her hands it is like a child raising their hands to us, their parents because they need us, want us, desire to be close to us, love us. So every time I have this urge to raise my hands, I think of what she said. I need God, desire God, love God and really want to be close to God. He is my Father and I think about all of the times that my kids raise their hands to me, their Mom for love, comfort, support, and just plain silliness sometimes. I want to pass that onto my kids too. I have never, ever thought of it like that before, so thank you Christina!

So for this weeks giveaway, two lucky readers will win a Diva Wipe and a Crinkle Charm. The winner will be announced next Thursday. Check 'bellajane' out on facebook too, if you have a chance.

What I want to know is:

What is your favourite song and why?