Outside my window... It is dark,and really cold (-20 this morning and a lot of snow) with a full moon shining brightly.
I am thankful...for so much, but especially my wonderful kids and incredible hubby! :o)
I am also thankful...for an awesome God who provides for us in unique ways.
I am praying...for family members, a friend who's family is going through some difficult times and for God to speak to us about some challenges and things we are about to face.
I am praying...for the start of a new journey next week and for safe travels to and from.
I am thinking... about all of the things that I need to get accomplished this weekend and about spending some much needed quality time with my family.
I am celebrating...my last day or work at Staples and a new, exciting beginning on Tuesday.
From the kitchen...nothing really tonight as it was just Zech and I.
I am wearing...jeans and my work t-shirt (still).
I am reading...the Bible, and an awesome book by Francis Chan called Crazy Love. This weeks chapter "Lukewarm Christians" was really challenging!
I am hoping...that I can get a good nights sleep and that the little ones may actually sleep in.
I am also hoping.....that John will get lots done for his courses this weekend.
I am hearing...a movie and the sound of John working out.
I am creating...well I just finished our Christmas Cards and sent them to be printed.
Around the house... it's very 'Christmasy'! Lots of lights and it is actually clean! (John cleaned today).
One of my favorite things....spending time with my beautiful kids and laughing at the incredibly cute things they do and say!
A few plans for the rest of the week...having some friends over, church, working on some incredibly important documents (eeek) and starting a new job.
First before I announce the winner, I just want to take some time to 'remember' and pay tribute to the amazing men, women and children who sacrificed so much to give us the freedom we have. Unfortunately it is something that we take for granted and seem to forget, and I write this as in a few hours I have to go to work and will not even get a chance to pay tribute to the courageous people that helped shape this country. Happy Remembrance Day and let's not forget the amazing sacrifice that was made for all of us.
Thank you all for the comments and for the words of encouragement. I am really excited for some of the amazing giveaways that will be coming up. So remember to check back the first Wednesday of every month and leave a comment!! :o)
And now the winner is......
MELANIE
(we did the draw the old fashioned way using a Bob the Builder hat)
Melanie chose #1
1. Provide Water in an Emergency - helps distribute water purification kits or set up community water filters.Value: $35
This one is right up her alley. I was chatting with her just yesterday (as I was reminding her in a loving, sisterly way that she hadn't commented) about water purification and how during her time in University they did a lot of studying about water purification. A good friend of hers was also in Cambodia helping distribute these kits. I was also telling her that I have a new appreciation for water purification and how much we take it for granted, as we are under a water boil advisory for almost a week and it is really challenging.
Congrats Melanie! (I have all of your information, so not to worry) :o)
Thanks again for all of the comments and for sharing your hearts with me!
So I am doing something new, something I haven't wanted to really do, something that I am a little afraid of doing, but something that I have really felt led to do. Make sense. No probably not, and it doesn't really make sense to me neither. These last few months have been the hardest months that we have ever had to endure. So many struggles on so many levels. However, it is also during these times that we have also had the most growth and learning (I know so cliche, but the Bible does talk of this and it really isn't that easy when we are in the midst of it).
One of the biggest struggles I have had is my want, my desire, my need to get more involved in the Ministry somehow, in serving the Lord. I have come to recognize through a lot of prayer and discussions with the Lord, that my most important Ministry right now is my family. I cherish that, I love that, but I also want to do more. I have been broken, brought to tears, cried out because of the brutality and brokenness of this fallen world. I want to "do something" and not just cry, pray, talk about it, but really make a difference. BUT HOW?? That has been my question. We are poor, lowly students, struggling to just stay afloat. There is zero time left for anything in our busy, busy schedules right now as we struggle to stay 'afloat', but I (ok we) have heard the Lord speak to us about this pretty loud, pretty clear.
I got the idea to do something on my blog a couple of months ago. Honestly though, I have been a big fat chicken! Fear has gripped me. WHY, because it is not like I have a huge following on my blog and what if I do a give-away and nobody comments--who would I pick for the give-away? See, FEAR!! I know that this is not the voice or the way of the Lord, I know where this fear is coming from. Let me make this clear as well, I am not doing this so that I can get more comments on my blog, so that it is some type of popularity contest, or self seeking righteous act. I am doing this because I love the Lord so much and I know that I need to be obedient and serve HIM. I am doing this because I want to somehow make a difference, even if it is the smallest, slightest difference, it is better than sitting back and doing nothing. I need to do this because there are so many wonderful people that need, no deserve to be honoured and yes even recognized for the sacrifices they make and the differences they are making in this world. I am doing this because, most importantly it is Biblical.
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Matthew 25:40
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
So let the Wonderful Wednesday begin. The first Wednesday of every month I will be doing a 'giveaway' that will honour and bring awareness to either an organization that I have been touched by or a person/people that are seeking support and making a difference.
The first giveaway is from an amazing Organization called 'Samaritans Purse'. Every year we partake in the Operation Christmas Child boxes. We just finished our boxes on the weekend. They have been opened, repacked and sought after so much these last few days, that I had to hide them. The kids boths really got into them! If you have never done the 'Christmas shoe boxes' before, I really encourage you to. It is such an amazing way to give and spread the joy of Christmas to those less fortunate. Every time I watch the videos I tear up. A good friend of mine (Heather) also had the privilege of handing out these amazing boxes in Mexico one year. What an incredible experience, which I wish I could have her share with us on this blog!
With that being said, Samaritans Purse also sends out an 'International Relief Gift Catalog' with some pretty incredible gifts. "In the pages of this Gift Catalog, you will find gifts that will honor your family and friends by touching the lives of people struggling in the developing world." I have went through the catalog and picked out a few that I would like to honor to one of my lucky readers. I will pay for the gift, but put it in the lucky readers name.
Here are the choices:
1. Provide Water in an Emergency - helps distribute water purification kits or set up community water filters. Value: $35
2. Give Hope to a Child - will help provide a child with life's necessities in dire circumstances. Value: $45
3. Help a Farmer Increase Production - provides a farmer with training to increase crop and herb yields. Value: $40
Please leave a comment stating which gift you would chose and why. I would also like to know of any organizations or people that you support or would love to support.
Comments will be open until next Wednesday, with the winner announced on Thursday (Remembrance Day).
God Bless!
Sneak Peak for next month.....
An amazing woman, organization that has brought me to tears on her blog so many times!!
We survived a crazy week, and have embarked on another crazy week! Still so much to be grateful for in the midst of the craziness! :o)
This week I am grateful for:
1. A day with my kiddos! I was supposed to have two interviews on Wednesday, but due to the crazy snow storm, they were both canceled. Actually one was supposed to be with the RCMP and they called me and told me not to come in as the road conditions were pretty bad. Who can argue with the RCMP. So I stayed home and kept the kids home with me. We played a lot and we even all took naps.
2. Modular classes. John had a modular class, which is a class in a week. He loved it! It was so challenging, revealing and discerning. It was so awesome to come home and find him completely on fire for the Lord and to hear about the ways that God has been working, moving and speaking to him. He also had an amazing Prof. who was full of spiritual discernment and who seemed to know more about his heart than most people who are supposed to. He also offered to be a reference for John on any Ministry positions in the future that he may look at.
3. New recipes. My Mom and Bill brought up a whole bunch of veggies for us. We had a bunch of beets that needed to be used up and then our neighbours also gave us some beets from their garden. I made Borscht for the first time and we LOVED it! I made so much, we have bags of it in the freezer for later.
4. Challenging messages and amazing testimonies at Church. We are doing a series at our church called 'Do Something'. I will share more on it later.
5. 1 Terabyte Hard Drives. Yup, we bought one and I backed all of my pictures, scrap book layouts, resumes, cover letters up and I can sleep a little easier! I love that Hard Drive that we got too as it is compatible with both PC and Mac and does not require re-formatting. YAY! Not to mention it will handle the new USB 3.0. (does that sound a little techy---I had a customer ask me if I was a geek--I am not there yet, but the learning curve on computers and technology is incredible).
6. New possibilities and opportunities that are on the horizon. Even if they do not go through, it is nice to know that they are out there.
7. The end of October and that Halloween is over with, so that now we can focus on Christmas.
8. New ideas and ways that God has been speaking to me on. Check out my blog tomorrow for a new announcement regarding this. I will give you a hint---it will be my first give-away ever!!
And I couldn't resist posting a few picks of my incredibly adorable kids. See what happens when I spend the day hanging out with them----I have more time to bring out the camera! :o)
