Sunday, December 29, 2013

Luke 2:8-18

I'm always amazed with the story of the shepherds... They were the outcasts of society, the ones nobody wanted to be around cuz they stunk like sheep. And yet they were the first to hear the news of the birth of Messiah. They were the only ones we know of that got to hear the choir of angels.

Can wet just stop right there? There was an entire sky full of angels there, singing! "Glory to God in the highest heaven! And on earth peace to those in whom his favor rests!" Picture that amazing sight! Imagine that amazing sound! And the shepherds were the only ones who got to witness it!

And so, not only did the shepherds just hear about the birth, they were the first to be invited to go see Jesus.

It's interesting how Jesus' entire ministry was like that - always going to those whom nobody wanted to be around: the tax-collectors, the lepers, the prostitutes...

Huh...

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Empty.

I've been feeling really empty lately. Empty of energy, empty of compassion, empty of joy... I don't get it, I don't know why, but that's how it is.

I feel like I need to get out of the house more, but I can't seem to find the energy to go out. Especially when it's this cold. Which leaves me sitting here, feeling like crap inside.

A part of it is sadness over just how life goes. The biggest thing as of late, is just thinking about where I though I'd be by this point in life. I always thought I'd be married by now, maybe have a kid or two, probably a pet...

I guess life never happens the way you think it will...

Sunday, September 8, 2013

PostSecret IMAlive Fundraiser for Suicide Prevention

Alright guys, here's where things get real.

Suicide has become a pandemic in our world. Every year in Canada, close to 4,000 people kill themselves - that's an average of 10 suicides a DAY!!! It it the second leading cause of death among 24-35-year-olds, third leading cause of death in 15-24-year-olds. People, listen up! Suicide was the sixth leading cause of death of 5-14-year-olds in 2002! 5-year-olds! Kindergarteners! Time magazine has published an article about a study: 40% of Kids Who Attempt Suicide First Try in Elementary or Middle School.

We need to wake up, open our ears, and listen to these kids! Kids don't just wake up one day and decide they're going to kill themselves. There's a lot that happens in their minds that lead up to that point. (Trust me, I've been there...) These kids are crying out for help, and nobody's hearing them!

Depression is becoming really big among kids/adolescents. Can you blame them? With bullying getting progressively worse, where they can't even avoid it in their own homes because of cyber-bullying, can you blame them? Two thirds of people who struggle with depression don't get help. And depression that goes undiagnosed and untreated is the number one cause of suicide.

Check in with your kids! Check in with your friends! If you suspect depression or suicide, ask them about it! Trust me, if they're seriously contemplating suicide, they are more willing to open up to a close friend who cares enough to reach out.

There are organisations too that can help. There is the International Suicide Prevention Wiki that has links to places to call within Manitoba.

There are also online resources. One that I am a big supporter of is To Write Love On Her Arms. There is also IMAlive, which is the world's first virtual crisis centre. It is an online one-on-one chat that staffed 24/7 by people who are trained and certified in crisis intervention.

This week is suicide prevention week, with September 10th being World Suicide Prevention Day. And right now, IMAlive is needing our help. They are run by volunteers, and so they need funds to keep providing 24/7 access to help. Here is Molly's story, as a crisis intervention volunteer:



How much is a life worth? How much is it worth to save? Please pray about it, and donate. Believe me, it is a worthy cause.

Online fundraising for IMAlive 24-7 Giving Challenge

Friday, August 30, 2013

Peace.

"It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."
-Unknown

God has called us to live in peace. Jesus Christ himself is our peace. He stands among us and says, "Peace be with you! I give you my peace. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. So let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
-1 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 2:14; John 20:19; John 14:27; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Colossians 3:15

Monday, July 22, 2013

Ghostly Dream

The other night I had another vivid dream.

I was staying in a hotel. The main floor was haunted by an evil ghost. He had the form of a man, but he was just shadow. A 3D shadow. But he couldn't go through walls or anything, so if you made it into the elevator, you were safe from him. But if he got you, he'd steal your soul.

He came after me, but I made it into the elevator before he got me.

I got to my room, and it turned out that there was another ghost there, but a good ghost. He was completely invisible, and he didn't talk, but rather I could hear his thoughts in my head. I couldn't see him, and so I asked if it would be okay if I dusted him with flour. He wasn't sure if it would hurt him or not, so I set out a bowl of flour. He dipped his hands in, and with him being invisible, all I saw was two little handprints form, and then two floured hands coming up. And he giggled! It was so cute!!!

So, with the flour not hurting him, I dusted him with flour completely so that I could see him. And with him, I wanted to go downstairs to beat the evil ghost. But he said that we wouldn't be able to, just the two of us, we had to find his friend that was in the room, and the three of us could beat the evil ghost. But he didn't know where he was. And so, because I didn't want to sprinkle flour all over the hotel room, I took a little water spritzer and was spritzing water around, to try and find the other ghost.

I didn't end up finding him though, cuz I woke up.

Interesting dream, not really sure what to make of it yet... But perhaps I'll send this to my house group pastor, he's been the one that God's been giving interpretation to for my dreams...

Also, I'm going to start a new label for dreams, because I really feel that God has been giving me really important dreams. I have a few that I've written down in my journal, but I also would like to keep them on here. So I will start posting them here.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

"Audible Emotion" Lynnea Malley

If I knew less about anatomy
I'd swear my veins were filled with sound
My pulse is simple proof of
How it sustains my existence

Everything that lets me own
Re-enforces how this is all I can rely on
It fills me

Everyone that tears me down
Convinces me there's nothing else worth trusting
I don't hear songs
I feel them

How can I focus when
How can I listen when I can't hear anything
Over the sound of my song
Louder than everything
Stronger than anything
Ohhhhh it makes me whole

How can I focus when
How can I listen when I can't hear anything
Over the sound of my song
It's growing louder than everything
Stronger than anything
This is my everything
It fills me

I know it's an unstable industry
People say you can't make a life out of this
But what what they don't realise is
My life is already this

Music is what lifts me up
Music is something I rely on
It fills me

Fills me through every day
Reminds me that there's something worth trusting
I don't hear songs...

And tell me how can I focus when
How can I listen when I can't hear anything
Over the sound of my song
It's growing louder than everything
Stronger than anything
This is my everything

I don't hear songs
I feel them

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Tomato Basil Pasta

12 ounces pasta
1 can (15oz) diced tomatoes with liquid
1 large sweet onion, julienned
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp dried oregano
2 sprigs basil, chopped
4.5 cups vegetable broth
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Parmesan cheese for garnish

Throw all the ingredients in a large pot; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer, keep covered, and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated. Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese.

I found this recipe on Facebook today, copied from Getting Healthy & Staying Healthy. Looks pretty cool, and it smells AMAZING with the fresh basil chopped up (thanks roomy!!!)

I did have to tweet it a bit, because of the ingredients I have in my house. For one, I have no soup stock (SHOCK!!!), so I'm using some chicken bouillon. I just added the necessary water to the pot, and I'm currently waiting for it to boil before I add the bouillon.

I also don't have any red pepper flakes on hand, so they're not getting added. Which is alright for me anyways, I imagine this dish to be quite savoury, and I don't want to put any spicy heat in to take away from the savour.

(Here is where I go and finish cooking...)

And back! HOLY CRAP THIS DISH IS DELICIOUS!!!! I think it's the fresh basil that really does it! Wow!!! And it's seriously sooooo simple! Throw everything into the pot, and let it cook itself!

Also, there's a really great lightning storm happening right outside my bedroom window, so I took out the screen and got some nice shots of it. I haven't connected my camera to this new computer yet, and it's just after midnight as I type this, so I'm not gonna do it now. You'll just have to believe me... ;)

Anyways, Alex and I took our bowlfuls of pasta out to the balcony, cuz the lightning was moving towards the east, so we had a pretty good view out there. There were quite the few bolts that shot down, which also came with really loud booming thunder, SO cool!!! =D

It's amazing to see so much power and energy being emitted! God is the coolest! :)

I'm gonna head to bed... I gotta be at work for 8 tomorrow morning. Good thing it's right next door ;) Perhaps next time I blog, I'll go through my Projects 2012 and update it for 2013. It's been so long since I've seen it, I don't remember what's there!

Goodnight! :)

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Huh...

So apparently I haven't updated my blog since February... Time to fix that!

First thing's first, I'm having trouble typing, so I'll have to keep this short. My pinky on my right hand is all puffy and sore, not sure what I did to it, but it's affecting my typing...

Anyways, what has been going on since February?

Alex and I have made it through a year together, and things are going really well :) We actually just went to Saskatchewan to visit with his family there, because his younger sister was graduating high school! Congrats Taba!!! :D

I got a new job! I started at the end of January at Stella's Cafe on Portage, right by where I live, woohoo! I started as part-time evenings, because I was still working days at the daycare. But my last day at the daycare was April 30, so now I am full-time at Stella's. It is super fun there, I love it! I love cooking, I love the people I work with, I love that it's pretty busy and I can work through a good rush on my station pretty well :) So far I've been fully trained on the salads and meat station so I can run that on my own no problem, I've worked middle (eggs and finish) but haven't actually been trained on it, and have started training on sandwich and pans. My boss is super cool, and he really pushes me to learn and do the best I can, and he's been really impressed with how I've done so far. Which is awesome!

I also got myself a new laptop! An actual new laptop, not a used one lol! My other one crapped out, it doesn't hold a charge. It's not the battery, cuz I got a new one and it didn't help, so I'm thinking it could be something in the plug-in, or in the cord. I don't know... But I've been wanting a MacBook for a while, so since I had some money from my income tax saved up, I was able to finally get one! :) And I am loving it!!! :D

Anyways, my finger hurts, and I'm really tired, so I'm gonna post this, and go to bed.

Also, I love bananas. According to Alex.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Toasted Coconut Ice Cream

So I'm trying this recipe (here) again... I tried it last week, but ended up leaving the kitchen for literally 20 seconds - 20 seconds! - and the custard curdled. It sucked, but at least I'm wiling to try again lol this time, NO LEAVING THE KITCHEN WHEN THE CUSTARD IS ON THE STOVE!!!!