Monday, May 29, 2006

Time with Jesus

What an amazing God we get the privilage of serving! I feel somewhat cliche for writing about my past weekend at YC Edmonton and trying to explain to all of you who weren't there how wonderful of a time myself and Stephen and our group of kids had. I just wanted to share some thoughts about how awesome God is. How incredibly big and powerful he is and how so often I forget that.

Amongst the business of this weekend, and all the running around with my senior high kids and listening to extremely loud music and jumping up and down and screaming, I was able to meet with God. Or maybe God met with me...I'm pretty sure that was it. He just reminded me of how powerful he was, how big he is, how incredibly amazing it is that he controls everything. Saturday night Chris Tomlin led us in worship. In the midst of worshiping God, I opened my eyes to watch all the 16, 000 other youth leaders and kids across the stadium. Everyone in the entire stadium was holding hands and began to jump together as we were praising God. It was absoultely incredible. I smiled thinking to myself.."only God could orchestrate something so beautiful". God just puts a smile on my face! How great it is to be able to worship him, and I know how much he loves it, because my bible tells me that we were made to worship him and that he loves our praises. All the fear was stripped away this weekend as I was able to humbly come before God and praise him with everything me. He is so worthy of all of our praise and adoration! He loves it when we scream his name, when we lift our voices to him. I was reminded this weekend that I was made to worship God. God made me so that I could praise him. That was the soul purpose for Christ creating me. Nothing else is more important than me living my life to worship Jesus. In those moments when we worship God, there is no other place that we would rather be..it just feels...right. It wasn't about the experience of YC, or the experience with God that I had. I don't want to call it that. It was the fact that God showed me this weekend what eternity with him is going to look like. When I leave this earth, I get the privelage of praising God forever. Worshiping with him in ways that I definitly don't comprehend here on earth. Isn't that SO awesome to think about!

I love God, and I love praising him. I am continuing to learn to get past my fears and whole heartedly engage in worship, wherever I am...not just at YC. What a shame if I let something as silly as worry about what others may think of me than doing what God made me to do!

I just want to say that I love my youth kids, that I love God and that I love what I do as a Youth Leader! Stephen and I are so proud of our youth kids! Thank you guys for letting God work through you and in you. I was a joy to watch you praise God, and I look forward to praising with you in the future and in heaven! You are a great bunch, and it has been such a blessing to get to know you. I love you guys! ( and so does Stephen, I'm pretty sure! hahaha)


And all God's people said, AMEN!
Melissa

Friday, May 19, 2006

Jr. High Youth UnBirthday Party Night!!

The "Tiki Hut"! We served Pina Colada tasting drinks with umbrellas and everything!
One of the features at the birthday party was Sumo Suits! SO MUCH FUN! Just
one of the kids getting helped into the Sumo Suit for the Sumo relay.

One of our kids in the Sumo Suit ready to fight! All the kids dressed up super great for the night! Lots of Leis and Hula Skirts!
The kids building their forts with huge cardboard boxes. We busted them down 5 minutes after this with water balloon launchers! We all got soaked!
A birthday isn't a birthday without presents!!
All the girl youth leaders enjoying our Pina Coladas!
Carissa and I before the big night started looking very Hawaiinish:)

It is that time again...

Time for me to tell you more random facts about myself. Do you want to know why I am going to tell you some more random facts about myself??? Becuase this day could not be going any slower, and I am SO bored at work with hardly anything to do. I finished most of my work in the morning, so I'm trying to find some things here and there to do. I guess this is one of them.
My apologies if anything is doubled from my previous post, I guess it just means it was that important in my life!

Random Facts about Melissa PART 2:

I knocked my sister's two front teeth out while jumping on our trampoline when we were younger. They looked like chicklets bouncing on the trampoline. I love rollerblading, but my husband thinks rollerblading is for fairies. Whatever that means. I am currently on the 6th season of friends now, last time I wrote I was on the 4th. I've made good progress:) I keep having dreams that I'm pregnant...I wonder if that means anything? My favorite ice cream flavor is Bubblegum or Cotton Candy. I am obsessed with things being organized. I probably write more than I need to in my "daily planner" (that sounds like I'm in kindergarten or something). I'm pretty sure I STILL check the weather every morning. I always have this problem with feeling like I forgot to lock my door after the end of the day when it is parked in the garage. My husband has had to go check its bugged me so bad!! I love riding horses, but I never get the chance. Today I sat outside by the river for lunch. I hate pizza pops...they are sick. I hate the color of yellow on any vehicle. I'm not a big fan of spearmint anything. I acutally gag when I taste it...BUT, coincidentally enough I just realized that my toothpaste for the last few months has been SPEARMINT!! My husband just notified me last week...I refuse to use it anymore. I think my husband has neater writing than I do. I've always wanted to travel to Venice and ride on one of those boats. (that is in Venice right?). I have tried liking wine, but I just can't. My mom never let us watch Smurfs on TV when we were little, or Carebears..its a crying shame I know! My mom and I share clothes all the time, its great! I just made my first shirt ever without my Mom's help (ok, she helped a little bit!). My dad hid under my bed one time to scare me, and then grabbed my feet when I walked into my room...I was so scared I ran upstairs crying. I was acutally in grade 12 when this happened. He likes to tell this story a lot...I want to hit him everytime he tells it:) Funny thing is, I was afraid of that exact thing happening all my life. What a great dad I have;) haha I think pregnant women look beauitful. I think I might be obsessed with buying baby clothes when I ever have a baby. You know those signs outside churches that are super cheezey...I really don't like those. My favorite flowers are probably peonies or sunflowers. I'm waiting for my peonie bush at my house to bloom, I can't wait! I love rollercoasters. My husband actually gets sick on them...haha I always make sure to point that out...becuase I think its funny. I'm a little freaked out by birds. The little sparrows and robins are ok, but all the other ones look possessed or something. I love coconut anything! I really really love latin music. Its a small obsession that I have that not many people know about. I guess now you all will:) I would LOVE to actually learn how to Salsa. Someday. I took a line dancing class with my Mom and Sister...it was a bunch of "older" ladies (of course that doens't mean you Mom!!) and my sister and I. It was great fun! So now I really DO own a newer volkswagon, and its silver not black and it definitly does have a sunroof! Its fabulous and I love it. This one time...I accidentally jammed a conductors wand into my ear (don't ask) and lost my hearing for a little bit. It came back! But I'm so lame. I always thought it would be fun to be a post man or woman..whatever you want to call it. I love the smell of Lilacs...the really dark purple ones are the prettiest. I love camping....but I don't like sand in the sleeping bag, or the mosquitos.

Alright...I guess you have to end somewhere...I'm actually falling asleep at my desk! It was a long night last night...but TONS of fun! Pictures to come of our Jr. High Youth Hawaiin Unbirthday night! Have a great long weekend everyone!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Random pics in the new car!


Happy Mothers Day!


This one is for you Mom! I love you and appreciate you more than you probably know! It has been incredibly special for me this year to start to build a different kind of relationship with you. We have turned into wonderful friends, and I couldn't be more excited about that. Thank you for all the time you have put into me and continue to put into me. You are so much fun!!! I love laughing with you, and sharing common interests with you! I love learning from you. You are such a wonderful teacher! I love how trustworthy you are, how much of a listener you are, and how humble and obediant to God you are. You are such an example to me. I think of you often and smile, because I can't imagine my world without you. You have become one of my best friends, and I look forward to all the many memories we will make together and all the great "teachable" moments that will come through them! I hope you were blessed today Mom! I LOVE YOU!
*Seriously people..if you don't know this woman, you should get to know her. She is fantastic!

Monday, May 08, 2006

New Addition to the Family!


So..we have some very exciting news from the Thiessen's! Meet Mr Volkswagon Passat:) The newest addition to our little family! We just purchased our very new, and very nice 1999 Volkswagon Passat, fully loaded, Turbo, leather interior, with a sunroof and a 6 cd changer, power lock and power windows..AND...AIR CONDITIONING!!!

We said goodbye to my very first car I had ever owned, the red Volkswagon Golf (1992) and traded it in for our lovely silver Passat. It is somewhat crazy how this all came about, and definitly is SUCH a gift to us that this happened. Very much a God thing. If any of you want the full story, just ask!

Stephen and I are looking forward to much cruising this summer, especially now that we have Cruise Control, man's best friend!!!

*That is our humble abode in the background..the cute white house with the blue trim:) Just in case you all were wondering

Monday, May 01, 2006

Surprise Road Trip!

Julia and her friend Shelby in their Brazilian Tutus just before they went on to do their pointe dance "La Pointe"
Me and Julia:)

Being silly and playing games!


Julia and I right before she went to dance! They won first in their pointe group!

This weekend could not have been more fun! I was able to surprise Julia, my sister in law and come to watch her dance in her dance competition. She had NO idea I was coming, so it was so awesome to see her reaction. I got on the bus right after work on Friday and got into Moose Jaw at about 8:30, just in time to see Julia's ballet group dance. They all looked so beauitful in their red dresses and they did such a good job, good enough to get them first! I was able to surprise Julia right before she went on to do her performance! It was so fun!

We had a great weekend. Julia did such a great job, and it was such a joy to watch her! It is one of my favorite things. We got to hang out and watch some girly movies (The Wedding Planner, so good!), and sit outside and suntan and read. It was great to spend time with her and I can't wait to do it again! Love ya Julia!!!