I'm *almost* starting to enjoy shopping.
It helps when you can walk into one of your favorite stores, and find things that are already slashed up to 50 % off. But what makes it even better is when the items on the sales racks are additionally marked down to 'buy one, get one free'!
I've needed a bit of an overhaul - not much, but just some nicer things to go out of the house in, when I'm doing more than getting groceries or whatever. Jeans that actually fit. A few decent shirts that aren't every-day t-shirts.
I walked out of the store (over 2-3 trips, with Graeme's blessing, no less!) with:
Three pairs of jeans
One pair of dress pants
Four dressy shirts
Two camisoles
Two headbands
One pair of earrings
One necklace
Regular price: Well over $500.
I paid well under $200. This is still a lot of money for a girl who likes to keep it simple... I mean, how many women are lucky enough to have their husbands encourage them to go pick out a few new things? I'm lucky... I'm glad I don't have to go swimsuit shopping, though - but if I did, I sure wouldn't take my husband with me!! (*grin*, Paige!)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
A good start to my day!
The sun is shining.
I am cleaning my office.
The boys are at Gramma & Grampa's house (although that isn't part of what makes it a good day - I miss the boys, but I am able to accomplish a few things that I normally couldn't do).
I've got a to-do list about 12 items long, and while I'm not going to get it all done in the next 4 hours, I'm sure gonna try - and be happy for my successes and not dwelling on my 'failures'.
The birdies are singing right outside my window.
I am going on a mini-road trip to see a friend this afternoon!!
On another note, one of my little indulgences is watching Survivor. This season has been particularly interesting because of people not playing their hidden immunity idols at the appropriate time, and have gotten blindsided at tribal council and gotten voted out. You think people would learn... anyway, Erik, starry-eyed Survivor-fan that he is, wove himself a tangled web by trying to make different alliances with 3 of the 4 remaining survivors. The women started gabbing and realized the error of Erik's ways, and called him on it. They then concocted a plan whereby one of the women would approach Erik (who had won immunity that day) and try to persuade him to give up the immunity necklace to 'prove' that he was sorry for his bad strategy, etc, and to try and get the 'good vibes' back. Then the girls would vote Erik out, since he no longer had immunity. Well, much to everyone's absolute surprise, he did it!! Wow. Erik got voted out for sure. In the loosely paraphrased words of James, "I am no longer the dumbest survivor ever!" Ha ha - gotta love it. I still can't believe the ice-cream scooper did it.
Okies, well - I must run. May your day be filled with joy and peace that passes our earthly understanding!!
I am cleaning my office.
The boys are at Gramma & Grampa's house (although that isn't part of what makes it a good day - I miss the boys, but I am able to accomplish a few things that I normally couldn't do).
I've got a to-do list about 12 items long, and while I'm not going to get it all done in the next 4 hours, I'm sure gonna try - and be happy for my successes and not dwelling on my 'failures'.
The birdies are singing right outside my window.
I am going on a mini-road trip to see a friend this afternoon!!
On another note, one of my little indulgences is watching Survivor. This season has been particularly interesting because of people not playing their hidden immunity idols at the appropriate time, and have gotten blindsided at tribal council and gotten voted out. You think people would learn... anyway, Erik, starry-eyed Survivor-fan that he is, wove himself a tangled web by trying to make different alliances with 3 of the 4 remaining survivors. The women started gabbing and realized the error of Erik's ways, and called him on it. They then concocted a plan whereby one of the women would approach Erik (who had won immunity that day) and try to persuade him to give up the immunity necklace to 'prove' that he was sorry for his bad strategy, etc, and to try and get the 'good vibes' back. Then the girls would vote Erik out, since he no longer had immunity. Well, much to everyone's absolute surprise, he did it!! Wow. Erik got voted out for sure. In the loosely paraphrased words of James, "I am no longer the dumbest survivor ever!" Ha ha - gotta love it. I still can't believe the ice-cream scooper did it.
Okies, well - I must run. May your day be filled with joy and peace that passes our earthly understanding!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Win a baby carrier!
I stumbled upon this contest from a friend-of-a-friend's blog, and thought I'd share it with you - you can win a free baby carrier called an Ergo - one of the best on the market in this type of carrier. If you want to enter, you can, but seriously... I'm on such a streak I'll probably win anyway! *grin*
Click here to enter!
Good luck - you'll need it! :)
Click here to enter!
Good luck - you'll need it! :)
Winnings
I've apparently got a little luck on my side these days - on Thursday I was erranding, and heard a little ditty on the radio saying that Dr. Kevin Leman was coming to Edmonton and that in the next 15 minutes they'd be giving away two tickets to see him that Saturday (this past one). Five minutes later, all you had to do was call in (no trick questions or pop quizzes) to win them, and I WON!! Dr. Leman is a Christian family & child psychologist who has been featured many times on Focus on the Family, and has also been on various TV talk shows because of his radical & down-to-earth approaches in dealing with children & family issues.
Anyway, the tickets were valued at $140 for the pair!! It was a good seminar - I learned a few things, but also had a load of things confirmed for me as well in changes I'm making and things I've done in the past with the kids. Whew! :)
And... I got a haircut. Had to pay for that one, though - didn't 'win' that! :) It's a *little* different from anything I've ever done before - take a peek at my facebook page if you want to see a picture! :) Poor Dustin wasn't sure about the whole thing, but he likes that I can shake my head and tickle him with my short hair now. What a cutie!
Must run - I have cookies to deliver to a friend! Be blessed in your new day!
Anyway, the tickets were valued at $140 for the pair!! It was a good seminar - I learned a few things, but also had a load of things confirmed for me as well in changes I'm making and things I've done in the past with the kids. Whew! :)
And... I got a haircut. Had to pay for that one, though - didn't 'win' that! :) It's a *little* different from anything I've ever done before - take a peek at my facebook page if you want to see a picture! :) Poor Dustin wasn't sure about the whole thing, but he likes that I can shake my head and tickle him with my short hair now. What a cutie!
Must run - I have cookies to deliver to a friend! Be blessed in your new day!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Further thoughts
Never before have I been in a hard situation and received confirmation after confirmation. Who'd have ever thought some of my confirmation would come through a Bible study from a lady by the name of Beth Moore? I think she's something like the top one or two ladies' Bible study authors - Joyce Meyer is the other.
I digress.
Here are a couple of things I read tonight:
One thing that I always try to do is to make sure my motives for radical action are right. For example, when we left our last church, I had to make sure that our reasons were because *God* was calling us to move forward, and not because *we* were fed up with various things or people. I try to apply the same to my relationships. Of course, it's never easy to hear someone tell you that they're uncomfortable with something - but there is a difference between judging the heart, and saying that I need to make a change because things haven't worked out despite best efforts. It's always going to come across as a judgment to the person concerned, but I can assure you, to the very best of my ability, this is never my method of operation.
I'm sure all of us have had rocky starts or finishes to well-intended relationships/friendships. Sometimes those rocky starts or finishes make us a *little* hesitant to try again, or hope to trust again. These words jumped off the page to me:
Hmmm.... good food for thought.
She goes on to describe what an unhealthy relationship looks like, and what a good relationship looks like. An unhealthy relationship can have all kinds of ropes and webs of entanglement, and the more you try to fix it, the stickier the web you weave. It's messy.
A healthy relationship can look like this (this would be specific to Christian friendships) - that between you and I, we have the cross of Christ. It's simple. Imagine us as stickmen. Now imagine that the horizontal line of the cross keeps us connected, but the vertical line respects God-given boundaries drawn between the two. Perfectly connected, but perfectly individual.
Here is where I'll begin quoting:
(Imagine that there are now two stickmen with a cross between them, but then the 'unwilling party's' web tangled with the cross rather than with you.)
I am so thankful...
We are encouraged in Hebrews 12:1-2 to "strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our Faith..."
**I realize this is really a huge bent on Christian friendships, but may I add that I have a variety of non-Christian friends who bless my life in equally wonderful and fun ways! I am so thankful for you and the balance & joy you bring to our lives!
I am loved.
I am blessed.
God is good.
I digress.
Here are a couple of things I read tonight:
One thing we must be warned to avoid at all costs is judging another person's heart. That job is for God and God alone. Judging another's heart, however, is not the same as discerning that something doesn't seem quite right and considering how we might wisely avoid opening ourselves to an intimate or close relationship in the situation.
One thing that I always try to do is to make sure my motives for radical action are right. For example, when we left our last church, I had to make sure that our reasons were because *God* was calling us to move forward, and not because *we* were fed up with various things or people. I try to apply the same to my relationships. Of course, it's never easy to hear someone tell you that they're uncomfortable with something - but there is a difference between judging the heart, and saying that I need to make a change because things haven't worked out despite best efforts. It's always going to come across as a judgment to the person concerned, but I can assure you, to the very best of my ability, this is never my method of operation.
I'm sure all of us have had rocky starts or finishes to well-intended relationships/friendships. Sometimes those rocky starts or finishes make us a *little* hesitant to try again, or hope to trust again. These words jumped off the page to me:
We cannot allow the enemy (Satan) to intimidate us into avoiding relationships. We just want to make sure we develop healthy, God-appointed, and balanced ones. We get started by becoming the kind of person we want to find.
Hmmm.... good food for thought.
She goes on to describe what an unhealthy relationship looks like, and what a good relationship looks like. An unhealthy relationship can have all kinds of ropes and webs of entanglement, and the more you try to fix it, the stickier the web you weave. It's messy.
A healthy relationship can look like this (this would be specific to Christian friendships) - that between you and I, we have the cross of Christ. It's simple. Imagine us as stickmen. Now imagine that the horizontal line of the cross keeps us connected, but the vertical line respects God-given boundaries drawn between the two. Perfectly connected, but perfectly individual.
Here is where I'll begin quoting:
Finally, let's address an obvious question. What if we're willing to respect clean lines in our relationships, but others in the relationship are not? Then they can tangle with the cross! (Emphasis mine.)
(Imagine that there are now two stickmen with a cross between them, but then the 'unwilling party's' web tangled with the cross rather than with you.)
We can't change anyone else. For crying out loud, we can't even change ourselves! But we can allow God to change us. Our responsibility is to allow God to make each of us healthy, whole connectors and to have the courage to put some distance between any relationship that is a seduction (there are many senses of the word, not just the seduction that immediately pops into your head!) waiting to happen.
You and I need to obey God. When we do, the consequences of our obedience become God's problem and not ours. Others threatened by the change may think they are tangling with us, but as we determine to allow God to manage our relationships, we leave Christ to tangle with them instead of us. And guess what, Beloved? He can handle them.
I am so thankful...
We are encouraged in Hebrews 12:1-2 to "strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our Faith..."
**I realize this is really a huge bent on Christian friendships, but may I add that I have a variety of non-Christian friends who bless my life in equally wonderful and fun ways! I am so thankful for you and the balance & joy you bring to our lives!
I am loved.
I am blessed.
God is good.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Confirmation & a funny quote
I'm currently reading a book called "Taking Care of the Me in Mommy", by Lisa Whelchel - a book written for moms who "run on empty and end up not being the moms we so desperately want to be." It's a Christian book, but sooo many of the principals can be applied to those who don't profess a faith.
Here's something I came across tonight as I was reading:
The other quote I wanted to share with you is this (as she talked about hunger):
Here's something I came across tonight as I was reading:
Be intentionally aware of everything you allow to enter through your eyes, ears, and heart. What are you watching on television and movies? What are you reading? What kind of music are you listening to? Are
you surrounded by friends that fill you up or tear you down? It isn't just about you. What you allow inside your heart and mind is what will inevitably be poured out on your family. What you receive is, most likely, what you will give.
This was a good confirmation for me - along with certain Scripture passages - to take a look at what's going on with my life, and deal with the things that are pouring negativity into myself and my family.
The other quote I wanted to share with you is this (as she talked about hunger):
By the way, it is my personal opinion that if carbohydrates were so evil, then Jesus would not refer to Himself as the Bread of Life.
:)
Friday, May 2, 2008
An Overhaul
Brave
(Nichole Nordeman)
The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been
'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love,
that cuts the strings
So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave
I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...
Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?
So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave
I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone
So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave
©2005 Birdwing Music/Birdboy Music (ASCAP)/Sony/ATV Songs LLC/Joy Jayce (BMI)
To me, this song speaks volumes about not being willing to settle for mediocrity, and fighting for something better in my life. Do I want more? Yes! Which means that I have to make choices (alongside my husband) that others just may not understand or support. Sometimes I have to 'out' the things that cause me to stumble. Sometimes I have to choose to turn away from the things or people who deliberately provoke me or hurt me (the operative word being *deliberate*, as you can never fully avoid hurts and offenses). Sometimes I have to choose a different path for myself... for my health, my family, my boys, my marriage.
And I'm excited about the path I'm on. I'm not on a rampage to change my entire life to become unrecognizable - I'm just "fine-tuning" it, I suppose. Deepening friendships and developing new ones. Spending time on worthwhile projects. Spending more energies on my marriage. Pouring myself into the things that God wants me to do and no longer bowing to the expectations of people who don't really care about me personally anyway. Humbling myself to further growth.
Perfection won't manifest itself until Heaven. But, with the support of family and good friends, we can all make a positive impact on each others' lives - however big or small that impact may be.
Be blessed and encouraged - if there is an area of your life that you feel is dragging you down, and if you've made honest-to-goodness proper efforts to reverse that trend - consider that if it doesn't improve then maybe it's time to move on in that area. You can do this!! None of us should settle for status quo, but always be striving toward something better.
Must run - time to think about the next snack! Have a fabulous day!
(Nichole Nordeman)
The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been
'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love,
that cuts the strings
So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave
I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...
Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?
So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave
I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone
So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave
©2005 Birdwing Music/Birdboy Music (ASCAP)/Sony/ATV Songs LLC/Joy Jayce (BMI)
To me, this song speaks volumes about not being willing to settle for mediocrity, and fighting for something better in my life. Do I want more? Yes! Which means that I have to make choices (alongside my husband) that others just may not understand or support. Sometimes I have to 'out' the things that cause me to stumble. Sometimes I have to choose to turn away from the things or people who deliberately provoke me or hurt me (the operative word being *deliberate*, as you can never fully avoid hurts and offenses). Sometimes I have to choose a different path for myself... for my health, my family, my boys, my marriage.
And I'm excited about the path I'm on. I'm not on a rampage to change my entire life to become unrecognizable - I'm just "fine-tuning" it, I suppose. Deepening friendships and developing new ones. Spending time on worthwhile projects. Spending more energies on my marriage. Pouring myself into the things that God wants me to do and no longer bowing to the expectations of people who don't really care about me personally anyway. Humbling myself to further growth.
Perfection won't manifest itself until Heaven. But, with the support of family and good friends, we can all make a positive impact on each others' lives - however big or small that impact may be.
Be blessed and encouraged - if there is an area of your life that you feel is dragging you down, and if you've made honest-to-goodness proper efforts to reverse that trend - consider that if it doesn't improve then maybe it's time to move on in that area. You can do this!! None of us should settle for status quo, but always be striving toward something better.
Must run - time to think about the next snack! Have a fabulous day!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Developments of the stressful dimension
Ever wonder what it would be like to be perfect? Ever wonder what it would be like to be able to rationalize (and expect others to believe and pat them on the back for) the reasons for their behaviour? Hmmm...
I'll be the first to admit I'm not perfect. I'll be the first to admit I've said things recently to hurt people - things that I regret. I'll be the first to admit that I need some shaping up. Truly, I do. And I'm working on it - with the help of some good Godly counsel and some honest-to-goodness friends, I am slowly moving towards that end.
I spent much of my early life living with someone who thought he was perfect... who could never do any wrong... who could rationalize every nasty act and bad word as simply 'out of stress' or whatever, without ever taking any responsibility for it.
There's a part of me that wants to hope beyond hope that every damaged relationship can be repaired. But then there's that part of me that has tried and tried again - sometimes for years, in certain cases - and has gotten the slap across the face in the form of deliberate provoking. But how long do you expose yourself to that before you understand that there's something better for you out there?
Is it too much to ask of 'friends' that they don't provoke you? Goodness, it shouldn't even be something to *have* to ask - it's simply understood. I have many friends who don't necessarily believe the same things that I do, but neither side would ever dream of deliberately hurting the other. I like that 'safe place'.
But does there come a time when you simply throw in the towel and decide that you've had enough of the toxicity? It's not about avoiding conflict - most good relationships have had (and subsequently reconciled) conflict. And I've definitely travelled that road, too. But what about when there is no resolution? Would one expect to just sweep it under the carpet and pretend it doesn't exist? Or would one eventually decide "enough is enough" - and that you can't invest any more emotional effort into something that is one-way, draining, and eventually false? Remember, I'm not talking about a week or so - I'm talking about an extended period of time when one party feels like they've done what they can, and it's just tossed back in their face as if they've done nothing to try and salvage the relationship.
Undoubtedly, a breakup such as this can only be hard and cause all sorts of emotions to rise, many negative, causing you to wonder if there ever was anything good in there? And unfortunately there are often 'associated' people with whom the common link is cut - what about those people?
I'm not asking for perfection, but rather mutual understanding and respect and encouragement. I don't want to settle for superficial relationships on which there is no common ground just for the sake of...what?
I want friends who are true to themselves. I want friends with whom I have a safe place - to laugh, to cry, to rejoice, to grieve, or to just 'be'. I want to know that my friends will lovingly call me out on something they see that is not consistent with the character I am trying to develop. I want them to challenge me when the need arises. I want friends with whom, even though I haven't seen them in a year, I can still pick up a conversation and feel like we just talked yesterday.
I have that now. I really have that now. Bring it on! :)
Blessings!
M.
I'll be the first to admit I'm not perfect. I'll be the first to admit I've said things recently to hurt people - things that I regret. I'll be the first to admit that I need some shaping up. Truly, I do. And I'm working on it - with the help of some good Godly counsel and some honest-to-goodness friends, I am slowly moving towards that end.
I spent much of my early life living with someone who thought he was perfect... who could never do any wrong... who could rationalize every nasty act and bad word as simply 'out of stress' or whatever, without ever taking any responsibility for it.
There's a part of me that wants to hope beyond hope that every damaged relationship can be repaired. But then there's that part of me that has tried and tried again - sometimes for years, in certain cases - and has gotten the slap across the face in the form of deliberate provoking. But how long do you expose yourself to that before you understand that there's something better for you out there?
Is it too much to ask of 'friends' that they don't provoke you? Goodness, it shouldn't even be something to *have* to ask - it's simply understood. I have many friends who don't necessarily believe the same things that I do, but neither side would ever dream of deliberately hurting the other. I like that 'safe place'.
But does there come a time when you simply throw in the towel and decide that you've had enough of the toxicity? It's not about avoiding conflict - most good relationships have had (and subsequently reconciled) conflict. And I've definitely travelled that road, too. But what about when there is no resolution? Would one expect to just sweep it under the carpet and pretend it doesn't exist? Or would one eventually decide "enough is enough" - and that you can't invest any more emotional effort into something that is one-way, draining, and eventually false? Remember, I'm not talking about a week or so - I'm talking about an extended period of time when one party feels like they've done what they can, and it's just tossed back in their face as if they've done nothing to try and salvage the relationship.
Undoubtedly, a breakup such as this can only be hard and cause all sorts of emotions to rise, many negative, causing you to wonder if there ever was anything good in there? And unfortunately there are often 'associated' people with whom the common link is cut - what about those people?
I'm not asking for perfection, but rather mutual understanding and respect and encouragement. I don't want to settle for superficial relationships on which there is no common ground just for the sake of...what?
I want friends who are true to themselves. I want friends with whom I have a safe place - to laugh, to cry, to rejoice, to grieve, or to just 'be'. I want to know that my friends will lovingly call me out on something they see that is not consistent with the character I am trying to develop. I want them to challenge me when the need arises. I want friends with whom, even though I haven't seen them in a year, I can still pick up a conversation and feel like we just talked yesterday.
I have that now. I really have that now. Bring it on! :)
Blessings!
M.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Like a kid in a candy store...
I love deals. LOVE them!!
Yesterday Graeme was home, and so I had a chance to run some errands in the afternoon before worship team. I went to a couple of 'small' errands - one was a drop-off, one was a pick-up... then I went to Ikea... and who doesn't love Ikea? That's rhetorical, by the way - I know there are some who don't like Ikea a whole lot. (You should get your heads checked! :) Well, no *real* deals at Ikea - although I have to say that last time I went to Ikea, I got Dustin's new big-boy bed for $34 in the as-is section. It was regularly well over $100, but the packaging was totally wrecked so it was discounted. You can see the bed in the previous post.
I digress!!
Then I went to Zellers, where I bought a picnic table for the kiddies (sooo cute! I'll post pictures once the snow melts and we can set up the table outside), as well as a patio box to store the boys' outdoor toys in... and I spent all of about $30 for both items.
Then I wound up at Future Shop, where I bought two Wii-motes (remotes for the Wii we have/received a couple months ago)... and didn't pay a single red cent for them. I had to buy the nunchuks, though - Future Shop was sold out so I had to go somewhere else.
So all in all, yesterday I only shelled out around $60 for $390 worth of *stuff*.
I LOVE deals!
Oh, and then I got an e-mail newsletter from splitcoast stampers, my favorite card-making & crafting website. It informed me that "there were some unclaimed prizes from their anniversary prize draws", and that we should go check for our name on their list just in case the vendors couldn't get in contact with us. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I'd won a $50 gift certificate to an online crafting store!! I placed my order, and of course went over the $50 by a smidgen. I ended up paying $8 for 4 stamp sets, some accessories, and shipping!!
Did I mention I LOVE deals??
Yesterday Graeme was home, and so I had a chance to run some errands in the afternoon before worship team. I went to a couple of 'small' errands - one was a drop-off, one was a pick-up... then I went to Ikea... and who doesn't love Ikea? That's rhetorical, by the way - I know there are some who don't like Ikea a whole lot. (You should get your heads checked! :) Well, no *real* deals at Ikea - although I have to say that last time I went to Ikea, I got Dustin's new big-boy bed for $34 in the as-is section. It was regularly well over $100, but the packaging was totally wrecked so it was discounted. You can see the bed in the previous post.
I digress!!
Then I went to Zellers, where I bought a picnic table for the kiddies (sooo cute! I'll post pictures once the snow melts and we can set up the table outside), as well as a patio box to store the boys' outdoor toys in... and I spent all of about $30 for both items.
Then I wound up at Future Shop, where I bought two Wii-motes (remotes for the Wii we have/received a couple months ago)... and didn't pay a single red cent for them. I had to buy the nunchuks, though - Future Shop was sold out so I had to go somewhere else.
So all in all, yesterday I only shelled out around $60 for $390 worth of *stuff*.
I LOVE deals!
Oh, and then I got an e-mail newsletter from splitcoast stampers, my favorite card-making & crafting website. It informed me that "there were some unclaimed prizes from their anniversary prize draws", and that we should go check for our name on their list just in case the vendors couldn't get in contact with us. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I'd won a $50 gift certificate to an online crafting store!! I placed my order, and of course went over the $50 by a smidgen. I ended up paying $8 for 4 stamp sets, some accessories, and shipping!!
Did I mention I LOVE deals??
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Life "out of" a nutshell - grabba java!
Yes, yes, it’s been a while, and I’m not even sure if anyone even reads this thing anymore. That being said, perhaps this is more therapeutic for me than informative for anyone else. :)
It’s been a very busy, crazy, insane few weeks lately. Here’s an update in a bit of a nutshell…
I’m still not feeling as well as I should be. The doctor says I’m on the right track, though, although personally, I’d like to see faster results, thank you very much. But he assures me that all is going according to plan. Hard to trust and be patient when I’ve been wanting health & healing for sooooo long…
The pharmacy is nutsy. ‘Nuff said.
Joshua is good. He’s full of informative statements, some of which are not fit to share on a public blog… let’s just say that he’s a normal curious little boy with ~interesting~ comments and observations that a mother just prays her son will never verbalize in public. :)
He has started another session of Tot Spot at a Rec Centre close to our home. He likes it, and has a lot of fun - it's where he made his teeth. He usually sleeps very well after we get home. I’m thankful that he still naps!! While Joshua is at Tot Spot, Dustin and I usually run some errands and then go on our own little ‘date’ to Tim Hortons… specifically, the location where Melissa, his babysitter, works. He loves to see her. More about Dustin later.
Joshua writes his name fairly well these days, although I haven’t been very diligent in having him practice lately. He just does it when he feels like it, but I know that without much pushing I could get him to print more. The kid is a sponge!! His latest undertaking has been to learn the “Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious” song. He can sing most of it… and then Graeme downloaded the full Mary Poppins version, which Joshua listens to several times a day. Delightful. I’m getting rather sick of the song. :)
Joshua’s main interests lately have been baseball, hockey, lawn-mowing, exploring our acreage, and teaching Dustin all kinds of wonderfully boyish and messy things. Dustin got a pitching machine for his birthday, which Joshua loves to use as well, and he has made some really awesome connections with bat & ball! I hope he takes after me in his love and skill for baseball! Dustin also got a bubble-mower for his birthday, which, yes, of course, Joshua uses mostly. :) Dustin likes to chase the bubbles. It’s all good.
Dustin had a birthday last Sunday! My baby is now two years old. He had a froggie theme for his birthday – my little frog-hunter will be at it again as soon as the frogs appear. Hopefully this year he won’t take it upon himself to try and eat any of them, though.
For D’s birthday, I decorated a cake with froggies on it, made froggie invitations, and had green decorations and plates, etc. The kids got green & yellow jelly-beans and dollar-store frogs in their goody-bags. It was a good time. Dustin also got a snuggly stuffed froggie from some friends, and he lovingly calls it “Oggie”.
Dustin’s speech, while not as quickly-developing as Joshua’s was, is ridiculously cute and funny. Joshua has gotten Dustin to say, in two-syllable fragments, “supercalifragilisticexpialadocious”… quite funny! Dustin’s words are also evolving. He used to call his babysitter, Melissa, “Mm-hmm”. Then, it was “aah”. Then, it was “huss”. More recently, it’s “hass”. Now, if he stops and things about it long enough, he can actually say, in very broken syllables with one-second pauses between them, “Mah – li – hass!” Very cute. He’s so proud of himself when we actually recognize something he’s saying.
Dustin, however, has been sick as of late. It’s been over a week of vomiting and nasty diarrhea – as though there is any other kind, right? Much laundry for me. Poor guy. He’s not eaten decently in days, but seems otherwise happy.
Graeme and I went to a Brian Doerksen concert on Friday night. It was awesome!! Brian Doerksen is a worship leader whose songs have been shared the world around. I love his heart for God. We found out last-minute that he was in town…and I was able to nab some tickets in town at the final hour…it was a good time. His guitar went down, though, around 15 or 20 minutes into the 2 ½ hour concert… he looked a bit like a fish out of water – for a man who leads worship while playing a guitar, he didn’t know what to do with his hands once the guitar was missing! But, at the intermission, they got it working again. The concert was STILL phenomenal, even with the glitches. The simplicity was stirring, the worship inspiring and encouraging. Loved it!
We also got to take a little trip (sans kids) to Banff/Canmore at the beginning of March, and on our way home we stopped at Jordan & Carly’s for a visit. It was nice to see them and their place! We’d gotten to go see them a month or so before, when they were house-sitting someone’s acreage for them – we had the kids with us, and it was a really fun and relaxing time! As much as we love visiting them, we’ll be happy to have them closer to us, as they’re moving back in the next month or so. For how long, we know not, but we’ll take what we can get!
That’s all I shall post for now – not really feeling like diving into ‘deep’ stuff today. Speaking of ‘deep stuff’… we’ve gotten at least 6 or 8 inches of snow, probably more by now… last Sunday, for Dustin’s birthday, it was +22 degrees (we got a new patio set and a basketball net for the occasion since we were having so many people over), and today, it’s around –10, and the snow has been falling since Friday night – I checked earlier tonight and we had over 9 inches on our driveway around dinnertime. I checked the weather network website, and we’re supposed to get another 4-6 inches by tomorrow evening. Niiiiice. The only bonus is that I can take the sleds out again with the boys… maybe even strap on the skis once again. I’m just glad I didn’t order the 3 yards of dirt I was going to have delivered on Friday… it’d be a total disaster to contend with right now!
I’ll try to be a little more diligent with my postings…
Be blessed today – even in the snow!
Some random pictures:
My two bicycle boys - Joshua loves to teach Dustin how to ride.
The boys showing off matching RCMP tattoos
Dustin looking for Easter eggs at Gramma "Easter-Bunny's" house.
Charis and Joshua on their own egg hunt!
Joshua in a quiet moment, trying to open a chocolate egg...
Our little nephew Aidan (and his Daddy) - on Easter day
Dustin's latest thing to do at night is make sure there's no lint stuck between his toes...
One of Dustin's many 'dress-up' times.
Daddy putting Dustin to bed in his big-boy bed for the first time - Joshua was 'helping'
Dustin was having a tough day :)
A picture of Graeme - I love this shot!
I may have posted this somewhere else, but I thought it too priceless, so I'm posting it again! :) My little Storm-Cloud!
This is from our LAST big snow-fall - we thought we were done with the plow!
Mr. Dressup - at a family day gathering at our church
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Messes, messes everywhere!
Here's life in a nutshell - point form, as full-out explanations would require a trip to Starbucks and a comfy chair. Hm. Not sure that made sense.
On a completely different note, we were also taken aback when we recently received tragic news - a dear friend of ours lost her baby very late in pregnancy. Obviously a huge shock - we wish we were closer and could stand beside her and her hubby during this time... I wish I could bear this for her... if you're the praying type, please pray for J (the mom) and B (the dad). Baby B was their first baby. So sweet & perfect.
On a positive note, another friend safely delivered baby #6, after a miscarriage about a year ago. Aside from Mom & Dad, the score is now girls - 4; boys - 2. Congrats on your new sweet boy!
Ever wish you could be everywhere at once?
I leave you with this:
- I'm a mess. Just got over the flu - started Wednesday night, am finally starting to feel a little more human (it's Saturday night), although food and the thought thereof still turns my stomach.
- I'm a mess. Number two. After years of blood tests (for hormone levels) telling me I was fine, a doctor gave me a diff't kind of test that measures the amounts of hormones that my body is actually using as opposed to what it's producing. Surprise surprise... my body is hardly using any of what it's producing. This would explain the fatigue (esp morning fatigue), headaches, aching muscles, poor sleep, irritability, anxiety, allergies, hypothyroidism chronic illnesses, decreased exercise tolerance, weight gain, etc. The catch is that he's never seen this in someone my age - usually it's in menopausal women. So now we're on a new course of treatment that will hopefully balance things out for me. It's nice to FINALLY be validated. Yes, doctors, my symptoms are real... and no, I can't eat more than 20 salads a week... So I'll keep you posted on how things go. The doctor is taking my case to Texas with him on his next convention, seeing as how it's fairly unusual to have these results happening at my age...
- Dustin is a mess. Love the kid, but he's messy. Sadly, he's inherited the paternal LaRue genes whereby his face falls apart every time he gets sick. Graeme sums it up like this - "searing pain in the sinuses, immediately followed by runny nose & red watery eyes"... when it strikes, the poor kid looks like he's been crying for hours. This happens every 10 minutes or so for Dustin when he's sick like this. And he smears the byproducts all over his face in attempts to make the pain go away... yeah. He's a mess. But he's a cute mess. And he's all mine.
- Graeme is not a mess. Neither is Joshua. Whew. Knock on wood...if you're superstitious. I'm not even sure if that's spelled right.
- My office is a mess. Again. I'm hopeful that one day this will not be its seemingly constant state. I had just finished 27 or so card samples for next year's pharmacy Christmas cards (meaning big messes), when I had to make a couple of sympathy cards, and then I fell ill. Haven't spent much time in here since... aside from e-mailing my mom tonight and now blogging. Cleanup will likely happen tomorrow. Hopefully.
On a completely different note, we were also taken aback when we recently received tragic news - a dear friend of ours lost her baby very late in pregnancy. Obviously a huge shock - we wish we were closer and could stand beside her and her hubby during this time... I wish I could bear this for her... if you're the praying type, please pray for J (the mom) and B (the dad). Baby B was their first baby. So sweet & perfect.
On a positive note, another friend safely delivered baby #6, after a miscarriage about a year ago. Aside from Mom & Dad, the score is now girls - 4; boys - 2. Congrats on your new sweet boy!
Ever wish you could be everywhere at once?
I leave you with this:
Held, by Natalie Grant
Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays,
is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved
from nightmares
We're asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live,
it's unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
If hope if born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our Savior
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
Monday, January 7, 2008
My big boy - all grown up!
Today I left Joshua somewhere. Alone. For three hours. With people I'd never met before. And 16 other children. With a snack and his coat & boots & shoes. And a hug & a kiss. And a prayer.
I put Joshua in a County program called Totspot - for 3 hours, once a week. He's been in 'parented' programs very similar to this for the last year or so, but this is the first unparented one. Where I have to leave him.
He's been in other childcare situations, at church, for example, but I've always been just a "page" away. I could come running if necessary (which, thankfully, it hasn't been).
But now...I'm home, and he's 4 miles away. When I left him, he was having a blast - he'd already painted a picture and was playing with other children. He's in his element, I think. I hope!!!
I miss him.
But then I remember he's only "on loan" anyway...but that doesn't make me care or love him any less. Probably moreso.
Anyway.
Dustin is napping, and I've got some things to do. If I can take my mind off of my big-boy long enough, I might actually accomplish something.
I put Joshua in a County program called Totspot - for 3 hours, once a week. He's been in 'parented' programs very similar to this for the last year or so, but this is the first unparented one. Where I have to leave him.
He's been in other childcare situations, at church, for example, but I've always been just a "page" away. I could come running if necessary (which, thankfully, it hasn't been).
But now...I'm home, and he's 4 miles away. When I left him, he was having a blast - he'd already painted a picture and was playing with other children. He's in his element, I think. I hope!!!
I miss him.
But then I remember he's only "on loan" anyway...but that doesn't make me care or love him any less. Probably moreso.
Anyway.
Dustin is napping, and I've got some things to do. If I can take my mind off of my big-boy long enough, I might actually accomplish something.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Picture updates...
Well, let's work our way backwards from Christmas! Here are some long-awaited photos - these are what make blogs that much more interesting!! I *love* pictures!
Joshua with his new airplane (which can be tranformed into a chopper, a car, or a submarine as well:
This is what Dustin does with Joshua's drum set while Joshua is not looking:
Dustin has decided he would like to be a trumpetter like Daddy (he found a turkey baster and decided to do this himself!):
Graeme and his boys on Christmas morning:
Me with "Dustin-the-Builder":
The boys in their Ikea chair swing:
The boys investigating Dustin's pirate ship...
The boys got these reindeer hats at the Mall when Gramma & Grampa & Daddy took them to get their Santa picture done:
Joshua making a snow angel before Bible study one day:
Joshua being a good big brother and trying to teach Dustin how to make a snow angel:
Joshua's big job on garbage day is to bring in the garbage can after the garbage man comes. He goes all the way to the end of the driveway and wheels this thing all the way back!! What a big helper!
Dustin the donut-man...Graeme brought home leftover donuts one day from a job he was at - nobody knew that he'd brought them home. Suddenly we realized Dustin was missing...we found him upstairs in the kitchen, standing on a stepstool at the counter, one donut in each hand, and bites out of two other donuts. What a monkey!
Dustin likes his winter gear:
Horsie-time!
Just like his mama! Don't worry, I don't actually let him drink the stuff! He had picked up this can from a box in my office that had not yet been put away...and decided he'd like to cart it around the house!
Joshua being a good big brother again, helping Dustin drink:
At Hallo-Balloo:
Some fall pictures - we had fun in a leaf pile one day!
Joshua enjoying a tire swing Daddy built for him!
Joshua with his new airplane (which can be tranformed into a chopper, a car, or a submarine as well:
This is what Dustin does with Joshua's drum set while Joshua is not looking:
Dustin has decided he would like to be a trumpetter like Daddy (he found a turkey baster and decided to do this himself!):
Graeme and his boys on Christmas morning:
Me with "Dustin-the-Builder":
The boys in their Ikea chair swing:
The boys investigating Dustin's pirate ship...
The boys got these reindeer hats at the Mall when Gramma & Grampa & Daddy took them to get their Santa picture done:
Joshua making a snow angel before Bible study one day:
Joshua being a good big brother and trying to teach Dustin how to make a snow angel:
Joshua's big job on garbage day is to bring in the garbage can after the garbage man comes. He goes all the way to the end of the driveway and wheels this thing all the way back!! What a big helper!
Dustin the donut-man...Graeme brought home leftover donuts one day from a job he was at - nobody knew that he'd brought them home. Suddenly we realized Dustin was missing...we found him upstairs in the kitchen, standing on a stepstool at the counter, one donut in each hand, and bites out of two other donuts. What a monkey!
Dustin likes his winter gear:
Horsie-time!
Just like his mama! Don't worry, I don't actually let him drink the stuff! He had picked up this can from a box in my office that had not yet been put away...and decided he'd like to cart it around the house!
Joshua being a good big brother again, helping Dustin drink:
At Hallo-Balloo:
Some fall pictures - we had fun in a leaf pile one day!
Joshua enjoying a tire swing Daddy built for him!
Ways to Maintain a Healthy Level of Sanity
I saw this on a friend's profile on facebook, and I thought it was just way too good to keep to myself!
- At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on, and point a hair dryer at passing cards. See if they slow down.
- Page yourself over the intercome. Don't disguise your voice.
- Everytime someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
- Put your garbage can on your desk and label it "in".
- Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addiction, switch to espresso.
- In the memo field of all your cheques, write, "For smuggling diamonds".
- Finish all your sentences with "In accordance with the prophecy.
- Don't use any punctuation
- As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
- Order a diet water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.
- Specify that your drive-thru order is "to go".
- Sing along at the opera.
- Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme?
- Put mosquito netting around your work area and play tropical sounds all day.
- Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you're not in the mood.
- Have your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, Rock Bottom.
- When the money comes out of the ATM, scream, "I won! I won!"
- When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling, "Run for your lives, they're loose!!"
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Happy New Year!
Well, obviously I missed the "Merry Christmas" part of the greeting. It's been a while since I've had a chance to blog at all, so here I am again. Finally.
It's been *good* here lately. We had a good Christmas, and have had some fun times with family and with friends. I got to play the Wii for the first time on Christmas day, and a couple days later, Jordan & Carly brought their Wii over to our house and we had Curtis & Darcy over as well for Wii, popcorn, chocolate, diet pepsi, and cookies. We also got a new game, Jungle Speed, which involves, you guessed it, speed (not the kind you buy on a street corner), a totem pole, and engaging in a battle with opponents who have the same symbol on their card as you do. Such fun!! :) Joshua & Dustin got spoiled rotten, BUT I am pleased with the restraint *certain* grandparents exercised when it came to gifts for the boys this year.
I can hardly believe that the New Year is almost upon us already. I am looking forward to planning another year - Graeme and I are going to make some changes to the way we do "life", and we're pretty excited. It's a new season, and changes can be good!
I also had a chance to grieve with a friend today who recently lost her 17-week (in utero) baby just before Christmas. It was a baby girl - they named her Quinn - Mama is doing fine, but it's a tough loss. The coroner (I think it was) suspected kidney failure in the baby. This would have been her fifth child. God is faithful - He is her Comforter and her Rock. It always amazes me when women can be so strong through something like this. I mean, it's not like they're emotionless, actually, quite the contrary - they're seeing that it's OK to grieve and love that little one that much of the world says isn't even a "human" yet. I think there is strength in grieving and pressing into God.
My next post will hopefully have some pictures in it! It's been too long since I've posted pictures - they just take SO long with dial-up!!
G'night!
It's been *good* here lately. We had a good Christmas, and have had some fun times with family and with friends. I got to play the Wii for the first time on Christmas day, and a couple days later, Jordan & Carly brought their Wii over to our house and we had Curtis & Darcy over as well for Wii, popcorn, chocolate, diet pepsi, and cookies. We also got a new game, Jungle Speed, which involves, you guessed it, speed (not the kind you buy on a street corner), a totem pole, and engaging in a battle with opponents who have the same symbol on their card as you do. Such fun!! :) Joshua & Dustin got spoiled rotten, BUT I am pleased with the restraint *certain* grandparents exercised when it came to gifts for the boys this year.
I can hardly believe that the New Year is almost upon us already. I am looking forward to planning another year - Graeme and I are going to make some changes to the way we do "life", and we're pretty excited. It's a new season, and changes can be good!
I also had a chance to grieve with a friend today who recently lost her 17-week (in utero) baby just before Christmas. It was a baby girl - they named her Quinn - Mama is doing fine, but it's a tough loss. The coroner (I think it was) suspected kidney failure in the baby. This would have been her fifth child. God is faithful - He is her Comforter and her Rock. It always amazes me when women can be so strong through something like this. I mean, it's not like they're emotionless, actually, quite the contrary - they're seeing that it's OK to grieve and love that little one that much of the world says isn't even a "human" yet. I think there is strength in grieving and pressing into God.
My next post will hopefully have some pictures in it! It's been too long since I've posted pictures - they just take SO long with dial-up!!
G'night!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Our Christmas Letter
Here is the letter we sent out with our Christmas cards this year!!
Happy Winter, Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings…we prefer “Merry Christmas”!
It’s been a year already? How the time does fly…and how much we seem to be able to pack into 12 months!! I’ll highlight a few happenings & blessings for you!
We are a busy little family! Our children ensure lots of activity and zero boredom – I vote “naptime for all”, but sometimes the boys don’t really seem to be on board with that. Having said that, I am blessed to have two boys who STILL nap, although Joshua is showing signs of giving up his nap altogether. That will be a day of mourning for me. There, is, however, the time of day, co-ordinated with Dustin’s nap, known simply as “quiet time”. I shall be taking full advantage of that in the coming months!
Joshua, now 3 ½, continues to amaze us with his insights, observations, and interpretations to all sorts of situations. He was old enough to attend our church’s Vacation Bible School this summer – a highlight for him! It’s like a little 3 hour day camp, every day for a week, where the children learn Bible songs & stories, do crafts, play games, and have a snack. Joshua was quite exhausted by the end of the week – he was falling asleep on the van ride TO the church! Having graduated from the nursery, he now happily attends Sunday School every Sunday. Joshua has learned how to print his name, loves to “read” and delights in word recognition, and is learning to tell time. He’s a genius!
Dustin is…well…Dustin. He is a completely different ball of wax from Joshua. He is one mischievous little boy!! We used to call him our little urchin, and one day I decided to look up the meaning of the word “urchin”. The definition, according to the source I found, was “mischievous child”. A perfect fit. Dustin is a climber, runner, big eater, and charmer. He is now big enough to know how to push Joshua’s buttons, which means I am playing referee a lot of the time now. Dustin is not talking as much as Joshua did at this age, but he is incredibly expressive and stubborn and won’t stop until he knows we understand him. It’s a good thing we’re doing sign language with him!
The boys are busy four mornings a week – Tuesday mornings, they go to the church’s childcare while I am at Bible study; Wednesday morning we’re running off to Playradise, a giant indoor playground that our church sets up for community families; Thursday morning will find us at Moms & Tots Playspot at an arena close to our home, and Sunday morning is church nursery & Sunday School. With all of that, I’m not interested in trying to squeeze in “just one more schedule activity”. I need some spontaneity in my life, as do the boys!
Graeme is doing well with the pharmacy. It’s overwhelmingly busy at times, but the lack of space just won’t allow for any more bodies. So we keep praying that the staff we do have will become even more superhumanly efficient than they already are. Last night we had our staff Christmas party, complete with spouses & children, and we had around 26 people here. It was hard to get an exact count with all the children running everywhere! We are blessed to have the employees we do. Graeme has also recently gotten involved in planning a ministry event in our church, planned for February, as well as getting his hands dirty with volunteering to be part of the Men At Faith In Action (you figure out the acronym), a team of men who will be called up on to do small maintenance tasks or building projects at the church. I am more than pleased to see him get involved in things other than the pharmacy and home life. He needs an outlet, too!
I am still attending Bible study at our church. We just finished up a series by Beth Moore called Believing God – but even though the series is officially over, I have much to complete by way of homework, and much to put into practice. What a journey!! I also left the community choir I was in last fall (2006) and joined our church’s worship ministry – I sang in the choir, and then was asked to be part of a 6-voice ensemble that sang for our Easter Service, which was a huge highlight for me. I also sing on “front-line” about half of the Sundays. A new worship pastor started at our church in the fall, and he is a joy to work with and work under. It’s nice having someone else tell me what to do for a change! He put together a choir and we sang for an Alvin Slaughter concert – what a rush!! That was an incredible joy – an experience I won’t ever forget. If Alvin Slaughter ever comes back to town, I will most certainly do what I can to be in the choir again! I will close out the year with singing at church this coming Sunday, as well as for our church’s Christmas Eve service.
Our church went through a crisis this past summer/fall – our senior pastor was struck down with a heart attack in mid-August, and then a massive stroke three days later. We have prayed for a miracle – and we got one! It’s the first time I’ve witnessed a miracle of this sort – but God has truly worked in Pastor Rick’s life. Although Pastor Rick still suffers from aphasia (difficulty with speech) as a result of the stroke, he is improving every week, and even preached two Sundays ago! The doctors and other medical staff are simply amazed – a man who was at death’s door twice in one week, now preaching and almost fully functional? It was nothing short of a miracle. My words fail to convey the gravity of the situation, but our faith has sure increased in these past months!
In June, we gained a new sister! Graeme’s youngest brother, Jordan, tied the knot with Carly, and then quickly whisked her off to Hinton as he started his first year of residency for medical school. They’ll be back this coming summer, and hopefully they’re back to stay! Graeme was a groomsman in the wedding, and Joshua & Dustin were ring-bearers. Dustin was in a decorated wagon, and Joshua pulled him down the aisle. SO cute!
Also in June, right after Jordan’s wedding, we took a trip to Victoria with the boys. It was a much-needed break from the rigors of life here – especially for Graeme to get away from the pharmacy. We had a great time – it was only a week – but we enjoyed the parks, the harbor, the museums, and for me, the gym at the hotel we stayed in! Joshua still thinks it’s “our” hotel in Victoria, as if we own that room or something! It was sooo nice to get away.
In August, we moved. Yup. Again. What were we thinking!!??!! Well…we were thinking that it was time to fulfill a dream of ours, and invest in an acreage. So, we now live **information deleted** – a perfect distance. We have a 1 ½ storey home on a 3-acre lot, well-treed, nice rolling yard (nice little hills for tobogganing), a fire pit, a tire swing courtesy of Graeme, a hammock courtesy of Graeme’s birthday, an apple tree with monstrous apples, and a lot of space for the boys to run! We enjoy the peace…the darkness at night…the fresh air… The move-in was not without its headaches and setbacks, but we think we’ve overcome them for the most part. With decorating the tree and the house for Christmas, it’s finally feeling like home. We are starting to be able to do projects because we want to do them, not because we have to.
I may be facing knee surgery sometime this coming year – I had an MRI a couple of months ago, which showed a torn meniscus with some cystic growth at the back of the knee. That would explain the recurrent intense pain I’ve been having whenever I do even simple things like bike riding or walking with the boys!! But, I have to exercise – I’ve already been set back enough as it is – and so knee surgery is probably the only option I have to turn this thing around and get back on track with my workouts (and therefore energy and everyday life). I will be seeing a specialist of some sort sometime in the new year – the referral has been made, and now I’m just waiting for the phone call.
We have been blessed this fall with fewer big events, and we’ve been able to focus on taking care of the house and getting our country life started. It’s been an adventure, and we’re just thrilled to be living out of the city again. We are looking forward to Christmas celebrations with family & friends, winter wonderland fun-time with the boys, cross-country skiing on our property (okay, that’s just me), and simply enjoying some time as a family…maybe cozied up in front of the fireplace with a mug of marshmallow-topped hot chocolate…
We pray that you will be blessed this Christmas season, just as we are blessed in our reflections on the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. May your new year be filled with joy, peace, growth, renewal, and refreshing! Rejoice!
In Christ,
Graeme, Melissa, Joshua, and Dustin
Happy Winter, Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings…we prefer “Merry Christmas”!
It’s been a year already? How the time does fly…and how much we seem to be able to pack into 12 months!! I’ll highlight a few happenings & blessings for you!
We are a busy little family! Our children ensure lots of activity and zero boredom – I vote “naptime for all”, but sometimes the boys don’t really seem to be on board with that. Having said that, I am blessed to have two boys who STILL nap, although Joshua is showing signs of giving up his nap altogether. That will be a day of mourning for me. There, is, however, the time of day, co-ordinated with Dustin’s nap, known simply as “quiet time”. I shall be taking full advantage of that in the coming months!
Joshua, now 3 ½, continues to amaze us with his insights, observations, and interpretations to all sorts of situations. He was old enough to attend our church’s Vacation Bible School this summer – a highlight for him! It’s like a little 3 hour day camp, every day for a week, where the children learn Bible songs & stories, do crafts, play games, and have a snack. Joshua was quite exhausted by the end of the week – he was falling asleep on the van ride TO the church! Having graduated from the nursery, he now happily attends Sunday School every Sunday. Joshua has learned how to print his name, loves to “read” and delights in word recognition, and is learning to tell time. He’s a genius!
Dustin is…well…Dustin. He is a completely different ball of wax from Joshua. He is one mischievous little boy!! We used to call him our little urchin, and one day I decided to look up the meaning of the word “urchin”. The definition, according to the source I found, was “mischievous child”. A perfect fit. Dustin is a climber, runner, big eater, and charmer. He is now big enough to know how to push Joshua’s buttons, which means I am playing referee a lot of the time now. Dustin is not talking as much as Joshua did at this age, but he is incredibly expressive and stubborn and won’t stop until he knows we understand him. It’s a good thing we’re doing sign language with him!
The boys are busy four mornings a week – Tuesday mornings, they go to the church’s childcare while I am at Bible study; Wednesday morning we’re running off to Playradise, a giant indoor playground that our church sets up for community families; Thursday morning will find us at Moms & Tots Playspot at an arena close to our home, and Sunday morning is church nursery & Sunday School. With all of that, I’m not interested in trying to squeeze in “just one more schedule activity”. I need some spontaneity in my life, as do the boys!
Graeme is doing well with the pharmacy. It’s overwhelmingly busy at times, but the lack of space just won’t allow for any more bodies. So we keep praying that the staff we do have will become even more superhumanly efficient than they already are. Last night we had our staff Christmas party, complete with spouses & children, and we had around 26 people here. It was hard to get an exact count with all the children running everywhere! We are blessed to have the employees we do. Graeme has also recently gotten involved in planning a ministry event in our church, planned for February, as well as getting his hands dirty with volunteering to be part of the Men At Faith In Action (you figure out the acronym), a team of men who will be called up on to do small maintenance tasks or building projects at the church. I am more than pleased to see him get involved in things other than the pharmacy and home life. He needs an outlet, too!
I am still attending Bible study at our church. We just finished up a series by Beth Moore called Believing God – but even though the series is officially over, I have much to complete by way of homework, and much to put into practice. What a journey!! I also left the community choir I was in last fall (2006) and joined our church’s worship ministry – I sang in the choir, and then was asked to be part of a 6-voice ensemble that sang for our Easter Service, which was a huge highlight for me. I also sing on “front-line” about half of the Sundays. A new worship pastor started at our church in the fall, and he is a joy to work with and work under. It’s nice having someone else tell me what to do for a change! He put together a choir and we sang for an Alvin Slaughter concert – what a rush!! That was an incredible joy – an experience I won’t ever forget. If Alvin Slaughter ever comes back to town, I will most certainly do what I can to be in the choir again! I will close out the year with singing at church this coming Sunday, as well as for our church’s Christmas Eve service.
Our church went through a crisis this past summer/fall – our senior pastor was struck down with a heart attack in mid-August, and then a massive stroke three days later. We have prayed for a miracle – and we got one! It’s the first time I’ve witnessed a miracle of this sort – but God has truly worked in Pastor Rick’s life. Although Pastor Rick still suffers from aphasia (difficulty with speech) as a result of the stroke, he is improving every week, and even preached two Sundays ago! The doctors and other medical staff are simply amazed – a man who was at death’s door twice in one week, now preaching and almost fully functional? It was nothing short of a miracle. My words fail to convey the gravity of the situation, but our faith has sure increased in these past months!
In June, we gained a new sister! Graeme’s youngest brother, Jordan, tied the knot with Carly, and then quickly whisked her off to Hinton as he started his first year of residency for medical school. They’ll be back this coming summer, and hopefully they’re back to stay! Graeme was a groomsman in the wedding, and Joshua & Dustin were ring-bearers. Dustin was in a decorated wagon, and Joshua pulled him down the aisle. SO cute!
Also in June, right after Jordan’s wedding, we took a trip to Victoria with the boys. It was a much-needed break from the rigors of life here – especially for Graeme to get away from the pharmacy. We had a great time – it was only a week – but we enjoyed the parks, the harbor, the museums, and for me, the gym at the hotel we stayed in! Joshua still thinks it’s “our” hotel in Victoria, as if we own that room or something! It was sooo nice to get away.
In August, we moved. Yup. Again. What were we thinking!!??!! Well…we were thinking that it was time to fulfill a dream of ours, and invest in an acreage. So, we now live **information deleted** – a perfect distance. We have a 1 ½ storey home on a 3-acre lot, well-treed, nice rolling yard (nice little hills for tobogganing), a fire pit, a tire swing courtesy of Graeme, a hammock courtesy of Graeme’s birthday, an apple tree with monstrous apples, and a lot of space for the boys to run! We enjoy the peace…the darkness at night…the fresh air… The move-in was not without its headaches and setbacks, but we think we’ve overcome them for the most part. With decorating the tree and the house for Christmas, it’s finally feeling like home. We are starting to be able to do projects because we want to do them, not because we have to.
I may be facing knee surgery sometime this coming year – I had an MRI a couple of months ago, which showed a torn meniscus with some cystic growth at the back of the knee. That would explain the recurrent intense pain I’ve been having whenever I do even simple things like bike riding or walking with the boys!! But, I have to exercise – I’ve already been set back enough as it is – and so knee surgery is probably the only option I have to turn this thing around and get back on track with my workouts (and therefore energy and everyday life). I will be seeing a specialist of some sort sometime in the new year – the referral has been made, and now I’m just waiting for the phone call.
We have been blessed this fall with fewer big events, and we’ve been able to focus on taking care of the house and getting our country life started. It’s been an adventure, and we’re just thrilled to be living out of the city again. We are looking forward to Christmas celebrations with family & friends, winter wonderland fun-time with the boys, cross-country skiing on our property (okay, that’s just me), and simply enjoying some time as a family…maybe cozied up in front of the fireplace with a mug of marshmallow-topped hot chocolate…
We pray that you will be blessed this Christmas season, just as we are blessed in our reflections on the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. May your new year be filled with joy, peace, growth, renewal, and refreshing! Rejoice!
In Christ,
Graeme, Melissa, Joshua, and Dustin
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Voice of Truth
Every once in a while, a song comes to mind...and keeps coming to mind...and then you hear it on the radio...and then you hear it again....and it's like God is trying to tell you something...
Oh what I would do to have
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
Oh what I would do to have
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
But the stone was just the right size
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid."
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.
I will listen and believe,
"Voice Of Truth"
by Casting Crowns
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid."
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid."
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.
I will listen and believe,
'Cuz Jesus, You are the Voice of truth
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Steppin' it up
I think there comes a point where you just throw your hands up in the air and say, "This is CRAZY!! Something has GOT to change, or I'm going to go completely bonkers!"
I often wonder - have I fulfilled my destiny? Am I even on the right path? I don't mean with marriage, kids, etc - I know those relationships are meant to be. I know that God has set me here.
But within this context, am I on the right track? Beyond the scope of being a mama, what am I meant to be? What am I meant to do? Surely I'm not meant to be a worn-out 29-year-old mother of two. Surely I'm not meant to go through each day wondering if and when I'll reach my dreams. Goodness, I know I'm not meant to merely exist within this God-given role of wifedom and motherhood!!
What holds us back, I wonder? For both Christians and non-Christians, I would daresay that fear is a major demotivator. I would even take it a step further and say that fear of failure is a major demotivator. How many dreams and aspirations die because we fear to fail? As I look back over the last 15 years of my life, I could make a list as long as my arm of the dreams - both long and short-term - that have been dashed.
I'm not talking about certain dreams; things I have no control over - I'd dreamed of being a mama by the time I was married for 2 or 3 years. I never wanted to lose those babies...I never wanted to go through that pain... in the middle of dreams that die beyond our control comes new life and new dreams. God chose a better path - God gives new hope and growth despite the death of a dream. In that pain, God shapes us and transforms our hearts beyond our own graspings. I can never explain why a good God would allow such suffering; all I know is that He IS good. He IS faithful. He IS loving. If God didn't allow challenges to come into our lives, we would never be refined as gold is refined by fire. That's the best I can explain it.
I have dreams. I have goals. But I also have failures. I fail daily. I don't want to, but I do. On my own, I am weak.
I have goals. I do not want to be worn out already. I dream of having more children (this isn't news). I dream of having energy. Ironic, I know. I dream of being healthy. I long to know people - to find out what makes people tick. I deeply desire to grab hold of those things that make people inwardly successful. I want to get close to people who have fulfilled their passions, and follow the same path! I want to be a God-follower, but O God, I am so unable!!
I want to be a woman of influence...I want to change lives...I want to have my own life transformed...I want to be so much more than "worn out". I grieve at all the possibilities that lay before me, yet I have no power to attain them because of my current limitations. I know I have the potential to "get there", but I'm afraid to step out in faith. God will supply the shortcomings - I know this in my head, but my heart won't follow quite yet. I'm afraid to step out in faith because there are people close to me who will work tirelessly to squelch my dreams and desires.
I deeply long to take risks. But I feel so trapped by the undertakings of those who are afraid to risk themselves. I want to live outside of my little box of tiredness. Faith means stepping out even when we can't see the answer, and watching God supply. I can't imagine that God would lay a desire so strongly on my heart (and I'm not talking just about babies) and then not allow me to fulfill it. At this point, it's not God who has stopped me, but I've allowed people to stop me.
I know that dreams happen in a season. I understand that my dreams won't all come true tomorrow. I want to live in the joy and anticipation of fulfilling my destiny in Christ. But one mention of dreams...one twinkle of life in my eye...and the dreams are stepped on and trodden upon as foolish... unattainable... too much work... too complicated.... I'm afraid to even mention those dreams anymore because I'm tired of the opposition.
Last I checked, achieving goals was not easy. It's not straight-forward. There's a process and juggling that has to happen. I don't want to go through life taking the easy straight smooth path...that's boring! I want to go where God wants me to go...I want to live a life that breathes the essence of my Lord & Savior...I want to live a life where people want to know my Reason for living...I want to go to my grave and have people say of me, "She wasn't afraid to pursue her God-given dreams." I want my kids to be bold & courageous and embrace their destiny with vigor and passion, and let nothing stand in their way. I want my kids to see that modelled in ME!
I want to worship. I want to sing. I want to dance. I want to be *allowed* to be excited about my faith. I want to have energy & strength again. I want to erase the effects of past illnesses & circumstances - I will allow them to shape me and motivate me further, but I don't want to hinder me anymore. I want to be free to live abundantly. I want to surround myself and learn from people who are passionate about the same things I am passionate about. I want to give of myself more than I could even fathom.
It's time to take action. One small step at a time. The steps will likely be so small that they will probably go unnoticed. And then, one day, maybe years from now, my biggest critics will realize that I've done far more with my life than they *thought* I could ever do, based on man's limitations. Maybe they'll realize that God is so much bigger and able. And then they'll wonder what they missed out on. And then maybe, just maybe, they'll use their remaining days to take risks and act in faith, and let God do amazing things in them, too.
Oh God, would you do some incredible things in me in these coming days, months, & years? Would You unsettle me from the comfort of complacency? Would You burn a holy fire in me that is unquenchable? Would You open doors of healing and opportunity? Would You increase my faith?
Now, I will wait on you, Lord, for the "steps"...and I will pursue You...and only You...my God... Let Your fire fall...
I often wonder - have I fulfilled my destiny? Am I even on the right path? I don't mean with marriage, kids, etc - I know those relationships are meant to be. I know that God has set me here.
But within this context, am I on the right track? Beyond the scope of being a mama, what am I meant to be? What am I meant to do? Surely I'm not meant to be a worn-out 29-year-old mother of two. Surely I'm not meant to go through each day wondering if and when I'll reach my dreams. Goodness, I know I'm not meant to merely exist within this God-given role of wifedom and motherhood!!
What holds us back, I wonder? For both Christians and non-Christians, I would daresay that fear is a major demotivator. I would even take it a step further and say that fear of failure is a major demotivator. How many dreams and aspirations die because we fear to fail? As I look back over the last 15 years of my life, I could make a list as long as my arm of the dreams - both long and short-term - that have been dashed.
I'm not talking about certain dreams; things I have no control over - I'd dreamed of being a mama by the time I was married for 2 or 3 years. I never wanted to lose those babies...I never wanted to go through that pain... in the middle of dreams that die beyond our control comes new life and new dreams. God chose a better path - God gives new hope and growth despite the death of a dream. In that pain, God shapes us and transforms our hearts beyond our own graspings. I can never explain why a good God would allow such suffering; all I know is that He IS good. He IS faithful. He IS loving. If God didn't allow challenges to come into our lives, we would never be refined as gold is refined by fire. That's the best I can explain it.
I have dreams. I have goals. But I also have failures. I fail daily. I don't want to, but I do. On my own, I am weak.
I have goals. I do not want to be worn out already. I dream of having more children (this isn't news). I dream of having energy. Ironic, I know. I dream of being healthy. I long to know people - to find out what makes people tick. I deeply desire to grab hold of those things that make people inwardly successful. I want to get close to people who have fulfilled their passions, and follow the same path! I want to be a God-follower, but O God, I am so unable!!
I want to be a woman of influence...I want to change lives...I want to have my own life transformed...I want to be so much more than "worn out". I grieve at all the possibilities that lay before me, yet I have no power to attain them because of my current limitations. I know I have the potential to "get there", but I'm afraid to step out in faith. God will supply the shortcomings - I know this in my head, but my heart won't follow quite yet. I'm afraid to step out in faith because there are people close to me who will work tirelessly to squelch my dreams and desires.
I deeply long to take risks. But I feel so trapped by the undertakings of those who are afraid to risk themselves. I want to live outside of my little box of tiredness. Faith means stepping out even when we can't see the answer, and watching God supply. I can't imagine that God would lay a desire so strongly on my heart (and I'm not talking just about babies) and then not allow me to fulfill it. At this point, it's not God who has stopped me, but I've allowed people to stop me.
I know that dreams happen in a season. I understand that my dreams won't all come true tomorrow. I want to live in the joy and anticipation of fulfilling my destiny in Christ. But one mention of dreams...one twinkle of life in my eye...and the dreams are stepped on and trodden upon as foolish... unattainable... too much work... too complicated.... I'm afraid to even mention those dreams anymore because I'm tired of the opposition.
Last I checked, achieving goals was not easy. It's not straight-forward. There's a process and juggling that has to happen. I don't want to go through life taking the easy straight smooth path...that's boring! I want to go where God wants me to go...I want to live a life that breathes the essence of my Lord & Savior...I want to live a life where people want to know my Reason for living...I want to go to my grave and have people say of me, "She wasn't afraid to pursue her God-given dreams." I want my kids to be bold & courageous and embrace their destiny with vigor and passion, and let nothing stand in their way. I want my kids to see that modelled in ME!
I want to worship. I want to sing. I want to dance. I want to be *allowed* to be excited about my faith. I want to have energy & strength again. I want to erase the effects of past illnesses & circumstances - I will allow them to shape me and motivate me further, but I don't want to hinder me anymore. I want to be free to live abundantly. I want to surround myself and learn from people who are passionate about the same things I am passionate about. I want to give of myself more than I could even fathom.
It's time to take action. One small step at a time. The steps will likely be so small that they will probably go unnoticed. And then, one day, maybe years from now, my biggest critics will realize that I've done far more with my life than they *thought* I could ever do, based on man's limitations. Maybe they'll realize that God is so much bigger and able. And then they'll wonder what they missed out on. And then maybe, just maybe, they'll use their remaining days to take risks and act in faith, and let God do amazing things in them, too.
Oh God, would you do some incredible things in me in these coming days, months, & years? Would You unsettle me from the comfort of complacency? Would You burn a holy fire in me that is unquenchable? Would You open doors of healing and opportunity? Would You increase my faith?
Now, I will wait on you, Lord, for the "steps"...and I will pursue You...and only You...my God... Let Your fire fall...
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Window woes
Ready for some humor?
Several weeks ago, someone drove through my husband's pharmacy window. The entire front of the store, which is in a large building full of medical services, doctors, lawyers, and accountants, is made of glass. This poor elderly gentleman, who is a customer of Graeme's, hit the gas instead of the brake when pulling into the parking stall. Smashed the window. Thankfully he had security film installed last time this happened - it kept the shattered glass held together, much like a broken windshield would be. The building wouldn't allow Graeme to put up any sort of blockade, like those nice yellow parking stall blocks you see everywhere - they said it wasn't aesthetically pleasing. So, Graeme gets another smashed window. (The building has now authorized and ordered large cement planters to be put in front of Graeme's store on the sidewalk it's a wide sidewalk and there's lots of room).
So anyway, since the frame was bent in addition to the windows being broken, it was a more intensive repair. Rebuilding the frame took weeks. So Graeme and his poor staff have been holed up in this 450 square foot DARK business (no more daylight) with the windows boarded up.
Last week, the frame and windows were finally ready to be installed. Being that the store is small, and being that Graeme had to disassemble all the fixtures and such at the front of the store to allow access for the workers to repair the window, you can imagine that the entire store was in complete disarray.
In walks this gentleman. He comes through the window with such authority, walks through the swing door into the front area of the pharmacy. Everyone thought he was a supervisor or something. He's just standing there for a while, so Graeme (who is freezing, by the way, from the cold air coming in the front of the store and is consequently bundled up in two sweaters and is NOT looking like a pharmacist) asks if he can help the gentleman. The man hands Graeme a prescription. Graeme says, "We're actually closed today."
"Why?" says the man? Like, did he not realize that he walked through a 9' x 27' opening, over top of broken glass, and through the back of the pharmacy? Did he not see the fixtures all over the front of the store? It's obvious that the store is in no way functionable in its state. Graeme just looked at him. Dumbfounded.
The man then gets his prescription (Graeme was there to fill emergency stuff for patients), and proceeds to walk out the big window AGAIN! (I think it was the same man - could have been a different one, though.) The workers tell the man that it's dangerous and he should really have gone out the door. In a thick Ukranian accent, he declares, "I go to church every Sunday, I pray, I be just fine!"
Another man yells to Graeme from outside, "Are you open?!?" Graeme says "Not really, but if you need something, I can take care of it for you." The man responds, "Should I come in through the window or through the door??!!!"
A lady walks in. Through the door. Oh, yes, it bears mentioning that there's a sign on the door that says something to the effect of "We're closed due to major window repairs. However, if you need something urgently, we can serve you." She walks in and asks Graeme if she can transfer her prescriptions out. "Why?" "Because you're closed." "Well, I can fill it if you really need it." "You mean you'd do that?" I ask the question, do people not read????
Graeme also fielded several phone calls from patients - he only had access to one phone, so many people were leaving messages on voice mail. You wouldn't believe the number of people who requested a transfer out because Graeme was closed!! I mean, his phone message specifically said he would be there to fill things if patients needed them!
What a lesson in observation...
I know I'm missing some anecdotes. But that's the general idea...
Must run - Dustin's up!
Several weeks ago, someone drove through my husband's pharmacy window. The entire front of the store, which is in a large building full of medical services, doctors, lawyers, and accountants, is made of glass. This poor elderly gentleman, who is a customer of Graeme's, hit the gas instead of the brake when pulling into the parking stall. Smashed the window. Thankfully he had security film installed last time this happened - it kept the shattered glass held together, much like a broken windshield would be. The building wouldn't allow Graeme to put up any sort of blockade, like those nice yellow parking stall blocks you see everywhere - they said it wasn't aesthetically pleasing. So, Graeme gets another smashed window. (The building has now authorized and ordered large cement planters to be put in front of Graeme's store on the sidewalk it's a wide sidewalk and there's lots of room).
So anyway, since the frame was bent in addition to the windows being broken, it was a more intensive repair. Rebuilding the frame took weeks. So Graeme and his poor staff have been holed up in this 450 square foot DARK business (no more daylight) with the windows boarded up.
Last week, the frame and windows were finally ready to be installed. Being that the store is small, and being that Graeme had to disassemble all the fixtures and such at the front of the store to allow access for the workers to repair the window, you can imagine that the entire store was in complete disarray.
In walks this gentleman. He comes through the window with such authority, walks through the swing door into the front area of the pharmacy. Everyone thought he was a supervisor or something. He's just standing there for a while, so Graeme (who is freezing, by the way, from the cold air coming in the front of the store and is consequently bundled up in two sweaters and is NOT looking like a pharmacist) asks if he can help the gentleman. The man hands Graeme a prescription. Graeme says, "We're actually closed today."
"Why?" says the man? Like, did he not realize that he walked through a 9' x 27' opening, over top of broken glass, and through the back of the pharmacy? Did he not see the fixtures all over the front of the store? It's obvious that the store is in no way functionable in its state. Graeme just looked at him. Dumbfounded.
The man then gets his prescription (Graeme was there to fill emergency stuff for patients), and proceeds to walk out the big window AGAIN! (I think it was the same man - could have been a different one, though.) The workers tell the man that it's dangerous and he should really have gone out the door. In a thick Ukranian accent, he declares, "I go to church every Sunday, I pray, I be just fine!"
Another man yells to Graeme from outside, "Are you open?!?" Graeme says "Not really, but if you need something, I can take care of it for you." The man responds, "Should I come in through the window or through the door??!!!"
A lady walks in. Through the door. Oh, yes, it bears mentioning that there's a sign on the door that says something to the effect of "We're closed due to major window repairs. However, if you need something urgently, we can serve you." She walks in and asks Graeme if she can transfer her prescriptions out. "Why?" "Because you're closed." "Well, I can fill it if you really need it." "You mean you'd do that?" I ask the question, do people not read????
Graeme also fielded several phone calls from patients - he only had access to one phone, so many people were leaving messages on voice mail. You wouldn't believe the number of people who requested a transfer out because Graeme was closed!! I mean, his phone message specifically said he would be there to fill things if patients needed them!
What a lesson in observation...
I know I'm missing some anecdotes. But that's the general idea...
Must run - Dustin's up!
Hormones affect us all??
I was reading my friend Paige's blog - she always finds the most amazing articles and I love reading what she comes up with. The things she posts aren't always pretty, but they are good food for thought.
She recently wrote a post concerning birth control pills, citing an article from Environet Daily. I was totally shocked!
ENVIRONETDAILY
Birth-control pills poison everyone?
Environmentalists silent on threat from water tainted with estrogen
Posted: July 12, 2007 1:00 a.m.
Eastern© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
While environmentalists are usually vocal about perceived threats ranging from pesticides to global warming, there is a silence when it comes to one threat already harming the water supply: hormones from birth-control pills. (to keep reading click here).
My first thoughts were of horror & shock - and wonder at how much this has caused problems for both men and women alike in their struggles with infertility? Could this be partially to blame? How many reproductive diseases are linked to this?
God help us...
She recently wrote a post concerning birth control pills, citing an article from Environet Daily. I was totally shocked!
ENVIRONETDAILY
Birth-control pills poison everyone?
Environmentalists silent on threat from water tainted with estrogen
Posted: July 12, 2007 1:00 a.m.
Eastern© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
While environmentalists are usually vocal about perceived threats ranging from pesticides to global warming, there is a silence when it comes to one threat already harming the water supply: hormones from birth-control pills. (to keep reading click here).
My first thoughts were of horror & shock - and wonder at how much this has caused problems for both men and women alike in their struggles with infertility? Could this be partially to blame? How many reproductive diseases are linked to this?
God help us...
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