To be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be known

This Sunday at church Pernell shared with us a video based on the scripture about the woman at the well. It spoke to me in a way that I can't even really describe... Here is the link on youtube
Hope that you are able to ask and give water this week.

Where or Where Did the Summer Go?

I cannot believe that summer is more then halfway over already. It just seems like yesterday that it was starting... I hope that you all are enjoying your time in the sun and that you continue to make memories that will last you in the cold months to come...

Preocupied Peace

So lately my mind has been preocupied to say the least. Worry and stress right there on the forefront of my wee little brain. However I can honestly say that over the last 24 hours I have experienced peace. As I was comming home from work late last night I randomly ran into work friends on the bus and it occured to me that I work with some crazies... but that we/they form our/their own little caring community. And I think that is pretty great! Its not very often that you like and start to care for the people that you work with the way our society is.
Secondly walking home I walked past a Lilac tree. There is something about the smell of lilac's that brings peace to my soul. If only for a fleeting moment.
It reminds me that we need to relish in those small fleeting moments of peace or restoration to our souls. For it is these small things that will remind us of the light in the darkness.
It will remind us of the compassion and love that God has for us. It will heal us when we aren't even aware of quite how broken we are.
I hope that all who read this will be able to smell their lilac's this week!

Never Fully Understood

I don't think I ever really understood the ramifications of what one action/accident has.

For those of you reading this that have no idea what is prompting the writing of this I suppose I should explain a little first.

Last Wednesday I was in a car accident. ( I wasn't hurt and am ok)

But its amazing to me what it changes. The effects that it has on everything... how emotional it is for everyone. How tiring, scary, unsettling, and just down right awful.

I am thankful that no one was hurt. I am more thankful for amazing and compassionate friends.

I am scared, nervous, worried, thankful,loved, cared for, anxious and unsure.

One accident. Millions of emotions. One action. Multiple reactions.

One girl... a mess.

My Trip to the US

As many of you know or may have guessed I am a bit of a home body. What I mean by that is that I haven't really been anywhere all that exciting and generally stay in my own little bubble. 

Well, a few weeks ago I went on a little trip to the US. I started in Toronto, flew to Charlotte, North Carolina, then flew to Fayetteville, Arkansas.

My grandfather had been vacationing there for the month of March and he picked me up from the airport and we drove to the Promise Land Resort, located off of Bull Shoals Lake. 

I am sorry to say that I fell asleep on the way to the resort... but a girl needs her beauty rest after being up for almost 24 straight hours.

I did see some amazing views... it was spring like there... beautiful dogwood trees, mistletoe growing in the tops of trees, tons and tons of deer and many others. 

I also experienced the infamous Cracker Barrel, and Bob Evans... ate the white gravy, biscuits and delicious fried apples.

I had a great time... on the drive back I got to use my geography skills by reading state maps and all I have to say about that is that I am thankful that we didn't get lost.

I feel like I have seen a little bit more of the world. I guess traveling (especially going through 10 states in 5 days) will do that to you. The picture is of the resort looking out to the lake. I haven't gotten my own pictures developed yet, soon though! 

Now I have the traveling bug... I wonder where I should go next???

Finished

So I have finished my first and second Chemo Cap. Now what is a chemo cap you might ask?... Well a Chemo Cap is something that I have been knitting lately for charity. Basically how  it works is people have donated yarn to be used for charity. My friend and I have been using it to knit caps for chemo patients. Basically what happens is we knit them and my friend takes them to a place where they distribute them... its pretty cool. I get to learn to do something new and it goes to a good cause. Plus we get to come up with some cool and crazy looking hats.

I have gotten right into or rather on the knitting wagon again... I am also working on an afghan and some scarfs.

I mean what's a girl to do when there is like 3 feet of freaking snow outside?

To Use or Not to Use

So I was minding my p's and q's the other day at work when a guy came into the store and while checking out noticed that I had a Nalgene bottle on the counter. He proceeded to inform me that I shouldn't be using it as many retailers have been pulling them off of the shelves because they have been recalled. They apparently are being recalled because a component in the plastic is secreting into the liquid that you drink and has some pretty serious side effects. So the question is do you you keep drinking out of something that will or may be causing you harm... I mean I still use the microwave, sit in the sun and eat bad food.... How bad is it really?
I found a link to the globe and mail that has an article with some more information.
My moral jury is still out on this one though.

Ten Thoughts to Ponder for 2008

Number 10
Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 9
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 8
Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny.
If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich .

Number 7
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day,
teach a person to use the internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Number 6
Some people are like a Slinky . Not really good for anything,
but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Number 5
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

Number 4
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Number 3
Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200.00
and a substantial tax cut saves you $30.00?

Number 2
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird.
Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

And The Number 1 Thought For 2008 :
We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease
is located among millions and millions of cows in America,
but we haven't got a clue where millions of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located.
Maybe we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of Immigration.

Really Long Time

So its been a really long time since I blogged and I thought I would correct it by telling you about my trip to visit a friend of mine that I also hadn't seen in a very long time.

So last weekend I did a spur of the moment thing. I took an 16+ hour journey to visit my friend Bradley and his wife Christine. It was the first time in about 3-4 years that I had seen Bradley and the first time ever that I met his wife.
It was a really good time. Bradley is in the Military. He is apart of the Royal Canadian Dragoons. He did a tour in Kandahar Afaganastan last year which he had lots to talk about.(Both good and bad) It was very eye opening for me in a lot of ways but also cool to meet his wife and catch up. I am still recouperating from the bus rides there and back but as Bradley said its nothing like being in a tank overseas. (just a das of perspective)
I have some other pictures of the tanks and such that I got to see in the hanger, and maybe if you are lucky I will actually remember to post again and will have them up here.

This trip made me think and process a lot of stuff....And I want to express my appreciation for those who have risked their lives for our Country. I also wish to express my condolences to the families who have lost people, and to the families who go without their loved ones for months at a time while they are on tour. It takes some kind of super strength to do what you do.

On a side note, I also wanted to mention how deeply blessed I am to have a warm house to live in and clothes to wear. Along my journey I was in TO and was put face to face again with how much homelessness is an issue. Last weekend it wasn't as cold as this one, and I just hope and pray that everyone makes it through safe.

Thats all....