Me...

Have you ever just felt like being silly?


Please try it.

It's alot of fun.


And if possible, take pictures of yourself trying to be silly.


Because it really is so much fun.


It really shows another side of yourself.



This is me!

My latest project...

So, I've always wanted a glider to rock my children in. So last summer, Nathan found one at a friend's garage sale and they only wanted $10 for it! It was pretty squeaky and the screws were loose/missing...and it was ugly. Behold, a closeup of the original fabric...

But it was a glider for $10!

We got it home and the first thing I did was buy new fabric and padding for it.

Then, I took off the old fabric to use as a pattern. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately (because it's funny), I decided to iron out the old one so it would be easier to cut around. Oops.

Apparently that particular fabric melts upon contact with a hot iron.

Well, I got that cleaned up and continued. I had the chair done by the end of summer, but I needed a heavy duty stapler for the footrest, so I put it off. Finally, earlier this week, I bought some furniture nails from work and got to work on the footrest, using nails instead of staples. And voila!


Can't wait for the day I get to use it!

SO funny...!

Isn’t it funny how, in winter, people walk like stickmen? Limbs, which were once agile and flexible, are now rigid with the cold. Arms that used to wave at friends on the street are now like inflexible icicles, stiff at their sides. Legs like robots, not bending at the knees like normal human legs do. Oh, so comical to watch these people of the north.

I’m one of them. I admit it. I walk with such speed and intensity and rigidity in winter. The smallest amount of time required outside, the better! My shoulders get so tense some days. And after a particularly cold snap…can I call it a “snap”? It’s usually more of a cold season…a cold spell…a cold war, in my books. I bundle up as best I can, as does everyone else. But brr…it’s just…frigid!

Yesterday, as I was walking our dog, I noticed a person on a bicycle. I would say “man” or “woman” or “boy” or “girl” (on a bicycle) but they were so bundled up that it was impossible to tell gender or age. Once I could see the eyes of this mysterious person, I could tell instantly that it was someone I knew from church (a young-ish man, for those who must know). I smiled and greeted him as one greets someone you recognize, and only when the bicyclist was behind me did I realize that, to him, I was probably just a small, friendly pile of winter clothes. I happened to recognize his eyes, but only because I’m of the female persuasion who notices these things. He, most likely, had no idea who I was. I laughed a bit, and shrugged it off (as well as my chilled, stiff shoulders could) and continued my walk.

What a different world Canadian winters are. Everything is transformed. People become robots. Friends become a set of mysterious eyes. And the great outdoors? Well, it becomes something of a marshmallow world (made for sweethearts)…take a walk with your favorite girl/guy…but I warn you, I will probably laugh.

Reminiscent...

Sometimes I like to reminisce. Well, actually I am ALWAYS up for some reminiscing. So this is what I wrote on January 24, 2007. I still have those days when I just can't warm up. Some things have changed since this post, but that hasn't. I just thought I'd reminisce back to this night when I just snuggled up and had a great evening with myself...and God.

January 24, 2007

Do you ever have those days when you're just chilled all day and no matter how many clothes you put on or how long you run your hands under hot water, you just can't warm up? That's me today. Burr!!! It's supposed to warm up on Friday thought, so here's hoping!!!

ANYWAY, tonight the youth went snowboarding and I stayed home alone to have some much needed alone time. There's just something comfortable about a night when you can curl up in a fuzzy blanket and light some candles and make some tea and either pour your heart out to God or get lost in a good book or journal to your heart's content. Well, I don't plan on the fuzzy blanket (maybe a warm bath!) or the candles, or the tea, but I AM really looking forward to pouring my heart out to God AND getting lost in a good book AND journaling to my heart's content. Mmm...what a cozy evening it shall be. I'm quite looking forward to this.

Tonight will be a different evening. Nathan has been saying that he can't remember the last date we had (and I can't either, come to think of it). With all that's been going on in the past 6 months, we haven't taken the time to date. So, tonight, with some "date money" that we have had saved away forever, I'm going to take Nathan to the city and treat him to the burger he's been craving (but not fast-food style) and a movie. Now let's see if I remember how to do this...date, I mean.

More Assignments Completed...

“Do a photo profile of winter life in Manitoba…how do you people survive?!”

Well, I wonder this every winter myself. How do we survive?! Well, I have a few pictures to help me explain this phenomenon that we call life (in winter-y Manitoba).

Here in Manitoba, we have electric cars. We plug them in and all winter long we can run without gas! Nah, just kidding. They’re called block heaters.

We also have windows…they enable us to see the beauty of winter, without having to venture outside. Also notice the cushy chair in front of the window. This is for watching the snowfall and staying inside where it’s warm.

Ther-mo-stat. This is another integral part of a Canadian/prairie winter. Just crank ‘er on up, and she’s good to go! I don’t know what I would do without the furnace!






Hmm…what else? Aah, yes. When the dog needs a walk and it’s -50 below, no amount of block heaters, windows, cushy chairs, or furnaces will make that walk any less cold. After my walk today, I laid out my clothing, layer by layer, on the kitchen floor so that I could show you what it takes to survive here in Manitoba.

I’ll start at the bottom and work my way up. First, we have some nice thermal boots. They keep moisture out and heat in. Inside those boots, nice warm socks. Today there was only one pair, but many days I wear two or three pairs for my walks. Then we have the ski-pants. On this particular day, I wore two pairs…first mine, which sport the full shoulder straps and bib, then my husband’s on top of that. (The extra layer of pants helps keep that wind-chill out.) Above the ski-pants, I have my trusty winter jacket. I don’t go anywhere without it these days…except maybe to start the car (and back it out of the garage without closing the driver’s side door – oops!) or take out the garbage. Then there is a neck-warmer and scarf. Just one allows all the cold wind right through. (Also, if you double up, you can cover your face with one and your neck with the other when it gets really bad.) A toque up top, covered with the hood of my jacket, and I’m good to go! Oh, and mittens. I wear a pair of mini-mitts for fiddling with the leash or whatever else, and then a pair of wool-lined, leather mittens. And that about does it! That is how I stay warm in winter!


Geometry Assignment...shapes!
Circle...








Circle, rectangle, triangle...












Rectangle...












Triangle(s)...












A ball formed of triangles...










And one more self-portrait!

I am woman, see my purse...

Oh, the handbag. Where did they come from? And why do women never leave the house without them? I’ve done extensive research, and hope to answer some of these age-old questions. Ok, well maybe not extensive, but hopefully enough to satisfy some curiosity (or at least Marsha’s).

Handbags. Purses. Whatever you call them, women have them. The earliest written records mentioning handbags date back to the 14^th century, though it is interesting to note that Egyptian hieroglyphs show a much earlier model of the famous (or infamous?) 1990’s fanny pouch. In the beginning of handbag history, bags were a sign of wealth more than an effort to be practical. I note that not much has changed…

These bags continued to evolve and, by the 16^th century they began to be seen as a more practical piece of the wardrobe, as travelers would use large cloth bags worn diagonally across the body to carry supplies for their journey. By the 17^th century, both fashionable men and women were using them. They began to appear in smaller, more interesting shapes and with intricate stitched artwork on them.

By the 18^th century, women were starting to wear less “under-clothing” (due to neo-classical clothing) and wearing a purse would ruin the look of their clothing. This is when women started to have a different bag for every occasion and fashion magazines all argued about the proper way to carry these bags.

In the early 1900’s, handbags were beginning to be designed (by jewelers) to carry opera glasses, fans, and cosmetics. In the 1920’s, bags no longer needed to match the outfit perfectly. In the 1940’s, because of the war and a shortage of products such as zippers, leather, and mirrors, manufacturers used supplies such as plastic and wood to make purses. With the end of the war, “important” designer houses (Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes) began to grow.

Now, there is an endless variety of purses as well as infinite uses for them. You can spend hundreds of dollars for brand name designs, or save your cash and buy a cheap knock-off. Some women use them for carrying the strictly practical things of life. Others wouldn’t want to ruin their designer leather with a sweating water bottle, leaky hand lotion, and a Swiss Army knife. But whatever your tastes, there is guaranteed to be a purse out there to suit you!

Self-Portrait #3

Haha! Winking is NEVER as good in a picture as it is in real life! Oh well...when you take a self-portrait every day, they can't all be good!

So, have I mentioned that I can't wait for winter to be over? I'm done with this -50 degrees stuff. What were the prairie settlers thinking?! Oh, that's right...free land. Gotcha. (grr...)

Self-Portrait #2

This is me, being much more contemplative than yesterday. No anger here!

I've realized lately that I haven't written much of substance here on my blog for a while. Perhaps there is not much (of substance) happening in my life right now? While that may be, there should always be something to write about, and, therefore, something of even miniscule substance happening.

As you all know, it is January. For Nathan and I this year, January means that we are over halfway through our time of "healing and restoration" with the church (my self-appointed "sabatical"). The first half, for us, was very focused on healing and re-energizing. We tried to lay low and pour all of our energy into healing and seeking God. There were many tears, especially at first, but we grew to appreciate this time very quickly. We see it as a wonderful privilege to have God break us so tremendously. It hurts in many ways, but to know that God loves us (and you) too much to let us live where we were living is unbelievable. We've also been incredibly blessed by the church, who has walked along side us, prayed for us, and were willing to fascilitate counselling and support for us. Thank you!

Now that it is January, we have headed into sort of the "second phase" of our journey. This is another time of listening to God. It is our decision-making time. If you think of us, you can pray for us this month and the next. And you can pray for our church, as they also have decisions to make regarding our situation. At this point, we are not sure if we will be invited to resume our position as youth pastor couple. But, by March 1, we hope to know what the next step is. I am excited for these next couple months. I don't find the unknown (beyond March 1) scary nor dark. It is bright and full of hope. Whatever God's leading, I am confident that it will be just that. God's leading.

We have been praying for God to reveal His will for our lives for as long as we've known Him (both as singles and now that we're married). We know that nothing will change as we continue to pray and seek Him regarding our future, whether it be youth pastoring here or not. We are confident that we are called to some form of full time ministry. That calling hasn't changed. If anything, we are more sure than ever of this call on our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:17

"For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Self-Portrait #1

So, here's my start on your assignments for me. A few of them are in progress, but I thought I'd give you a taste of what's brewing...I don't guarantee a self-portrait nearly every day, but a few of you suggested self-portraits, so I'll try for a good set of 10 or 12. Here's #1!

(I snapped one shot quickly before work so I'd have something to post...this is what I got. I was trying to look contemplative...I ended up looking angry...haha...I'll have to work on those facial expressions...)

You'll laugh about it one day...

Has anyone ever said that to you? No? Let me give you some insight to this particular saying...

It is usually said to you when something has gone wrong. Something has just happened that you want to erase. Sometimes it's embarassing. Sometimes it's hurtful. Usually laughing is the furthest thing from your mind when you hear it.

After a few tears and a bit of shock at my own carelessness (*see below), I said, "You'll laugh about it one day" to myself...

I had an "oops" and, once it's paid for and looking pretty again, I'm sure I'll be able to laugh about it. But for now...well...see for yourself... Can anyone guess what happened???


*I've been quite forgetful and out of my usual, "mindful" state of being (on and off) since we've started trying to get pregnant...isn't that supposed to happen after you conceive?