Another Quiz

[A is for age]: 21
[B is for booze of choice]: I enjoy fun girly drinks every now and then.
[C is for career:] Is what I do now actually considered my career? I'm an administrative assistant...I wouldn't mind making that my career.
[D is for your dog's name:] Brandy...I'm not sure how long she is going to be around for. She is getting old, deaf, smelly, and has no teeth. Poor thing.
[E is for essential items you use everyday:] Deoderant, Redkin shampoo, vanilla lotion from The Body Shop, and my glasses.
[F is for favorite song(s) at the moment:] Bryan Adams anything, right now I have "All for Love"
[G is for favorite games:] Scattegories, take two, the game of life, and guess who.
[H is for hometown:] Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
[I is for instruments you play:] Flute and Piano
[J is for jam or jelly you like:] definitly raspberry is my favorite, and homemade freezer Strawberry jam comes in a close second.
[K is for kids:] hopefully someday, we have some time to wait:)
[L is for last kiss:] this morning after my husband dropped me off for work in the car:)
[M is for most admired trait:] passionate
[N is for name of your crush:] Stephen Mark Thiessen...man he is such a cutie!
[O is for overnight hospital stays:] none, I am extremely blessed.
[P is for phobias:] insects, especially grasshoppers. I am also scared of driving long distances at night...I'm always scared I am going to crash.
[Q is for quotes you like:] Aslan? Of course he isn't safe. But he's good." - Lewis, The Lion, the Witch & The Wardrobe.
God Grant me the serenity to accept
The things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
~Reinhold Niebuhr
[R is for biggest regret:] speaking before thinking...and letting my big mouth get the best of me!
[S is for sweets of your choice:] pie! I love pie a lot. Also, M&M peanuts are the best.
[T is for time you wake up:] 6:45AM...then we hit the snooze button until 7:00AM rolls around.
[U is for underwear:] I am supposed to let you all know what kind of underwear I have? Only my husband should know that:) sorry!
[V is for vegetables you love:] celery, tomatoes! (wait, that is a fruit...but I still like them!), green beans, corn, and peas
[W is for worst habit:] biting my nails
[X is for x-rays you've had:] my ankle and my shoulder
[Y is for yummy food you make:] homemade pizza and a yummy linguinie pasta with creamy tomatoe basil sauce...
[Z is for zodiac sign:] ...i don't even remember.

Nice Girls Don't Change the World

My Dad gave me this book a few weeks before I was married this last summer. I clearly remember receiving the book and getting quite emotional because of the words he had written to me in the inside of the cover. He told me to be all that God wanted me to be, and that he believed in me and the woman that God had created.

I picked up the book last night and started up where I had left off. I am horrible at beginning a book and then forgetting about it until months later. I was dissapointed in myself that I had let this book slip away like all the others. It is such a powerful read. Nothing too long, just a few chapters...but it will change your life and get you thinking, I promise.

The book is written by a lady named Lynne Hybels. Lynee is married to Bill Hybels who is the senior pastor of a very large church that many of you might have heard of, Willow Creek Community Church, http://www.willowcreek.org/ . Lynne has also written other books such as Fit to be Tied with her husband Bill, and Rediscovering Church.

I identified with so many of the things that Lynne mentioned in the book. Nice girls, she says, are taught early that serving God means earning God's love and sacrificing oneself to meet the needs of others. Lynne kept living a life that she thought others wanted, what she thought God demanded, and her husband wanted and her kids wanted and her church expected. She finally discovered that she was completely exhausted of pleasing others, of feeling like she had to measure up and she always failed. She was tired of trying to earn God's love.
It just clicked in my head. How many of us have felt this way? I know I have on SO many occasions. I don't measure up. I need to earn God's love and mercy and grace. I need to do better, be a better wife, a better friend a better youth leader. I try to be someone that, truth be told, I am not, because God didn't make me that way.

This book was such an eye opener to me, in realizing that I have made God out to be a harsh and demanding taskmaster. I never realized until reading this book that I didn't fully accept God's love because I thought I needed to be at a certain place in my life to do that. I needed to pray enough, or do enough "good" to be loved.

Lynne so beautifully and so honestly talks about her struggle with trying to live someone else's life and how she learnt to reclaim the gifts, strengths and passions God has given her. We so often think we need to have certain gifts, and forget to use the ones that God has purposefully given us. We spend so much enegry trying to be this woman or that woman and compare ourselves. (I know we all do it ladies, I do all the time!). It is so easy to forget that GOd made us each individually unique. He has a purpose, and we are special. Our gifts are special and we can use them. If you don't know what gifts God has given you, I dare you to find out what they are:) You will be amazed when you just find that place where you fit, where you feel your passion is and you can watch to see how God will use you!
This isn't meant to be a power trip that woman are the only ones that can change the world, go woman go! It is so much more than just changing the world...it is changing who we are, how we think about ourselves. Realizing that God loves us, for everything that we are. That he has given us things that we are good at, and he wants us to shine in those things.
Lynne says at the end of the book, Nice girls don't change the world, dangerous ones do:)
Just read the book..you'll love it!

"I hope you realize how much your family, your friends, your church, your community, and this world needs you. Don't allow who you truly are to be lost, buried, or devalued...what is most trully you MATTERS" Lynne Hybels.

I LOVE YOU BRYAN!!!!

I'm sitting at the computer right now in awe and maybe somewhat dreaming of THE Bryan Adams...that is correct, tonight on January 12, 2006 Stephen and myself went to see Bryan Adams in concert.
I think we sang his songs all the way home...it was that good! On the ride home, I also learnt some valuable information. Stephen has had some sort of a "man crush" he calls it on Bryan Adams! haha I guess it has been his dream since he was younger to see Bryan Adams in concert...and his wish came true! Thanks to Jer and Erin (thanks guys!! it was so much fun!)...we were able to get tickets as a gift to us. Best gift we've ever gotten, hands down!

Bryan was amazing. For the younger crowd, like myself and Stephen....I'm not so sure Bryan Adams is such a hit, but we both love him nonetheless, I mean how can you not! He is extremely talented and it showed in the concert. Apparently encores to him are like another set of songs enough to make an entire concert! He just wouldn't stop! I don't think I've heard so many great hits one after another...you name it he played it...Cloud Number Nine, I'm Ready, Summer of 69, Everything I do, Cuts like a Knife just to name a few.
I've included some pictures for your perusal:) If you want to go to a show that will knock your socks off and let you hear some quality, down to earth music, Bryan is your guy. Plus he's Canadian which really, you can't go wrong. ( Any Ladies that are 40 out there...I didn't see him wearing a wedding band tonight! Any takers?? hahaha).
What a great night...I just couldn't not write about it!

ps. yup...dyed my hair...I'm a blondie:)

DOUBLE BIRTHDAY!!!

Stephen received his very first Krispie Kreme hat from his
sister Julia. He definitly plays the part:)

Our "birthday cake"...a yummy apple crisp!!!

Happy Birthday to us! Stephen and I celebrate our birthday's only 6 days apart. He is the older one, and likes to rub it in almost every day that he is older:)
We spent Stephen's birthday (the 6th of January) in Caronport visiting with his parents! It was such a great time, and so nice to see his family! I always love visiting them. Stephen's grandparents even came up for Saturday for his birthday party! We also celebrated my birthday at the same time (mine is January 13th, tomorrow!!!). This coming weekend we are celebrating "our" birthdays together with my family! Lots of lovin' to go around! Here are some pictures from the great event!

TAG...YOUR IT!

So...apparently you can tag people in the blogging world! Who knew...I sure didn't. But I figure since I' ve been tagged by two people I had better co operate! I've been caught and tagged by both Janelle at http://j-losworld.blogspot.com/ and Karina at http://jasonissocool.blogspot.com/.

So here goes answering these questions I've been tagged with.

7 Things I would like to do before I die:
1. Own a motorbike (preferably a Harley Davidson) and obtain my bike license...were going on the road hunny!
2. sky dive
3. have kids, hopefully 3 or 4
4. travel to Europe...I really want to visit Venice, Italy.
5. buy an old home and renovate it...and then decorate to my hearts content
6. own a brand new vehicle
7. enjoy celebrating my 50th wedding anniversary with Stephen

7 Things I can't do (yet):
1. Play floor hockey (here is the thing...I don't ever want to do it. I can't and that is that.)
2. Speak French fluently. Some day Stephen your going to teach me, and then we can be a bilingual family!
3. Go a day without tidying up my house (I'm a neat freak...its scary)
4. Sew an entire garment or blanket without someone's help. I need more patience!
5. Crochet a touque...someday soon!
6. Draw (If any of you know my sister, she is amazing...I have a long ways to go)
7.

7 Things that attracte me to Blogging:
1. Meeting new people
2. I love looking at pictures...and since blogging is a great way to share photos of your family and friends...I love being able to see what is happening in people's lives visually.
3. Being able to hear people's hearts on issues in their lives and in the world. It is amazing what people will write, but not say out loud!
4. The fact that I can share my heart and maybe hopefully impact someone else.
5. Keeping in touch with people from far away.
6. Knowing that there are people that want to keep up to date with MY life and what is going on.
7. Being able to have feedback where people can comment on what you've written and your thoughts. I think it is a great idea.

7 Things I say most often:
1. I love you!
2. Crap!
3. Stephen, what are you thinking?
4. forsure (I think instead of saying Yes to people I say forsure a lot...is that a bad thing?!)
5. Good Morning/Good Afternoon ESTI, Melissa Speaking
6. Did you want your coffeecake warmed with whipcream? (honestly, I DO get tired of saying this, but I have no choice! yay Scotts Parable)
7. Have you done ________ (insert something differnet everytime) yet Stephen?

7 Books I love:
1. Redeeming Love-Francine Rivers
2. And The Shofar Blew-Francine Rivers
3. Guess How Much I love you?-Sam Mcbratney
4. I love the Bible...but I don't read it nearly enough...its sad really
5. Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury...so good, but made me cry SO much!
6. The Ragamuffin Gospel-Brennan Manning
7. Antonement Child-Francine Rivers

7 Movies I watch Over and Over:
1. Hitch
2. How to lose a guy in 10 days (good one Janelle!)
3. Footloose
4. Home Alone
5. The Incredibles
6. White Christmas
7. The Notebook

7 People I want to join in too (you've been tagged!):
1. Carissa Friesen
2. Patti Friesen
3. Sharee Klassen
4. Chris Unger
5. Michele Richichi
6. Kristan Perpeluk
7. Dan King

Reflections

I've been thinking a lot about what I wanted to write today. I suppose this new year brings in a sense of new beginnings, and a time to reflect upon the things we have learnt and what we want to continue learning.

Instead of writing down a list of resolutions this year, I decided that I wanted to reflect on the things that have happened in my life this past 2005 and talk about some of the lessons God has taught me and how I have grown this past year. I also want to set some realistic goals, things that in my own personal life I want to work towards and grow and develop in my life.

There were many changes that occured in my life in 2005. If any of you know me, change and me don't exactly go hand in hand. God brought into my life a wonderful man who I became engaged to. He brought me through the complicated mess of planning a wedding, and all the while kept me sane! God took us through the journey of finding a place to live, and encountering some hardships along the way with a flooded basement and damaged valuables of ours. I moved out of my parents house and embarked on the adventure of marriage and a life of my own. It proved to be a little hard at first, with many emotions as the change was fairly significant. Many changes took place as my husband and I took on responsabilities like paying for rent, for food, and basically for anything and everything we needed. I was no longer the single care free woman I once used to be. Sharing a life with another person changed my life completely. Starting in September of 2005, I took on the dual role of a Youth Leader in senior high and junior high ministries, which also proved to be a big change for me. In November of 2005 God brought a change to my parents, my siblings and myself as we were introduced for the first time to our Dad's father, and our Grandpa whom we had never met.

There were A LOT of lessons to be learnt in 2005 for me. Actually, more lessons than I think I have ever been given. I kept asking God..."Okay God, whats the deal! Does EVERYTHING have to be a teaching moment! I don't know how much more teaching I can get" haha. And God just said, "Yup".
Whether it was our flooded basement, the hardships with the wedding planning, or our car troubles again and again, or health issues with my mom, or Stephen's brother not being able to make it to the wedding...God just kept whispering in my ear, "Be still and know that I am God". There were times when I didn't want to listen. I wanted to get angry or be hurt or upset. There were times when I was scared and worried and anxious. But God never stopped whispering those words. He was teaching me that I can't control my life. He is all knowing and all powerful and knows exactly what he is doing. He was teaching me to role with the punches. To take everything as it was, and lay it at the foot of the cross, without worry or fear, but just in trust and faith. God was trying to teach me to be still. To be content in his arms, and know that whatever I go through, he will carry me through it.
As I went through the change of becoming a married woman this past 2005, God really taught me a lesson in unconditional love and self sacrifice. I don't know about any of you other married women out there, but once you get married, life is devoted to unconditional love and sacrifice. You just can't get by without it in your marriage. Daily, I must remind myself that everything isn't always about me. In my marriage, God has been teaching me to be sacrificial in everything I do. To think of Stephen before myself ALWAYS. To love him, no matter our differences or the annoyances or the hurt that we can cause one another. God has been teaching me to show love in everything that I do. To glorify God in ALL of my actions in my home and towards my husband.
Something that I think God has been wanting me to learn for a long time is to be able to rely on Christ and not my emotions. Stephen often tells me when I am anxious or upset about something to sit down and ask myself, what do I know as TRUTH. Is what I am feeling right now truth, or just my emotions telling me something that isn't true? It has been extremely helpful as I go through discerning moments where I just need to be able to say, God...you want me to give this up to and I need to do that right now.

There are a few goals that I have in mind for 2006. My goal is to be humble, obediant, faithful, transparent and vulnerable servant of Christ. I want to be more faithful in trusting Christ and his plans for my life, whatever way that may look. My goal this next year is to have more of a servanthood attitude. To be willing to help whenever and wherever, and enjoy doing so. I want to be able to sacrifice things in my life, and ultimately become less selfish.
My goal is to learn how to love my husband the way he needs to be loved. One of my goals also is to pray for my husband more. I don't do it enough.


There are so many more things, but I just wanted to highlight a few.
It is a cool thing for me this year to be able to think about 2006 and what it holds and genuinly be excited about the path that God has for myself and for my husband and I together. I tend to be a pessimist, and so when thinking about the future, I tend to think negatively. I wonder what hardships will happen next, and how I will ever survive. But in these past few weeks I've really been excited to see where God takes me, what things he decides to put in my life to teach me lessons. Undoubtedly they will be frustrating and hard, and stretching my in every direction. But I know that God will be there to carry me through. I know he wants me struggle so that I build my character. And I think I can handle that, and should choose to be excited about the amazing things God is going to do in molding my life.