Happy New Year!!!

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say Happy New Year to you all. I will be heading over to Steve's house in a little while so we can party. I even got myself some dealcoholized wine coolers. You know, the ones in the grocery store 0.5% alcohol ones. They really are great!! So for all that are drinking, please be responsible and absolutely NO drinking and driving!!! Have fun tonight. I pray that you are with friends and or family, loved ones!!! And if you can't be, don't fret because God's love surrounds you. Be good and be smart tonight. It really is just another night.

A little bit of this and a little bit of everything else!

Ok, I erased the post that I was planning to publish. First I had interruptions, good interruptions. I had a nice talk with my mom. Then my sister called, which I just hung up the phone with. I decided not to post it because it was a bit deep into the heart of Angela and I am not so sure I want to go there. It probably would have been fine but leaving yourself open is quite risky, and I don't want to take that risk right now.

How was everyone's Christmas? Mine was quite nice. We laughed a lot, we stuffed ourselves, we opened presents, we had a great time.

So, I've been thinking about a few things that shouldn't be on my mind. One is about a boy, one is about a friend, one is about death, one is about family, and one is about my career and where I want to go with it. They are all unrelated but I guess they intertwine. I don't know why the boy is on my mind. My friend is a good friend but I see things that could test our friendship coming. That scares me!! Death because someone that I work with-her grandfather passed away last night while she was with him in the hospital. I am not good friends and I don't even think you could call us friends but something like this is very emotional. I think about my grandfather that passed, and my grandfather who is in and out of the hospital right now, my uncle Gary, and my grandmothers. My mom and I were talking about this and I could see that she became very emotional but being a mom she held back. I don't know why we become so afraid or obsessed with death but it is something that we all must face. That is why it is so great having Jesus with me, because my death will not be full of heartache it will be full of rejoicing. It better be!!!

As for family, I have been thinking about my children a lot lately, well I always think of them but I've been thinking about how I could be a better mom, and how I really wish I could have a complete family. But I don't, so here comes the career part of what I've been thinking about. I need to provide for my family. I don't want to live with my parents forever and I really would like a place that the three of us could call home and I don't mind going out and getting it myself. And so I am applying to college. I've applied twice for the same thing already - twice talked out of it by my ex who thought he knew me better than I knew myself, but now I am ready to take the plunge for real this time.

My thoughts are organized and my mind is not troubled. I have issues. We all have issues. Mine are not that bad and I see good and possibly bad things to come. But that is what happens when you really start living. I want the ups and the downs. We learn most from the downs. I want God to test me. I want to become stronger. I want to face my fears. Jesus is with me, and that is all I need.

Christmas Eve

Today was a nice but tiring day. I baked, we had sets of company come over, wrapped some presents (which I am still not finished doing yet!!), had our first fire in the fire place, read my children both the Scrooge Christmas story and the birth of Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke. Tomorrow I think I will read them the story in Matthew - a bit more simple and not so long. A three year old really doesn't have that long of an attention span! :-)

Anyway, all's quiet in the house. My parents are busy wrapping, my brother is watching tv., I am wasting time on the computer, kids are in bed.

I just came on to wish everyone a very safe and wonderful Christmas. I hope we all use are heads and are wise this season. Lets not forget the reason for the season!! And enjoy all the goodies, food, get-togethers.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Number One!!!

The Toronto Maple Leafs have won again!! They are now officially number one out of all thirty NHL teams. How amazing is that?!! Congrats TML's. Maybe this year is their year?!!! Hmmmmmm. If not, they are still doing absolutely amazing so far.

Family get togethers.

This weekend was quite a good one. Most of my family went to my aunt's in Hamilton and had a really great time. We all got together to celebrate Christmas. Nathan said a nice prayer to start dinner. We played charades and my team lost by one point. :-( The guys watched a bit of the Montreal vs. Toronto hockey game. Which is always great because we have fans from both teams in the house. I got to see Ashley - who has been away for college. She came home from Pensacola, Florida for the holiday. My uncle Rob couldn't make it because he didn't end up getting off of work until really late so that kind of sucked but his other half and their baby - Trevor was there. I love it when we all get together.

The other side of the family got together on Dec. 6th which was great too. That was a fun night and because we celebrated at my uncles who lives in Walkerton, Ontario, we stayed the night. And no we didn't drink the water. :-) Did I mention that I love Christmas?!! Just checking!!! :-)

Anyway, I did almost all my shopping for Christmas on Thursday just like I was planning. I only have to go out for stocking stuffers for my parents, a gift for Shannon and a gift for Melissa. It shouldn't take too long and I have ideas for two out of the three.

Well, I hope all is going well for everyone out there. (I don't even know if anyone really even reads this anyway, but even if you don't I still hope everyone has a safe and happy jolly holiday season.

Christmas time.

This is the first time in our family history that the Christmas tree has been put up so late in December. Traditionally our tree goes up on the last weekend in November or the first weekend in December. Except we were in the midst of a move. Well, my dad normally puts it up too, but he has been working so hard and has been trying to get our house in some sort of order so this year I took the plunge. Last night I put the tree up and tonight Skye, Matthew and myself put all the decorations on it. And I must say that it is truly a beautiful looking tree. It just shimmers!! I am quite proud of the tree.

I know I haven't been sure about decorations and such - you just have to look at my entry a few posts ago but I really do love decorating. Seeing the tree up, decorations hung and for the first time we actually have a real fireplace to hang the stockings off of. I baked yesterday for Skye's bake sale at school. It was fun. Matthew trying to stir the mixture and Skye helping to put it all together. I really love this time of year. The smells, the sparkles, the laughter, the closeness of family. It's so great. Now, all I have to do is get out there and do some shopping. After being sick for what felt like forever I am a little behind in that department. So, before and after work tomorrow is dedicated to shopping. Which I have to admit, I love that part too. Giving really is great. I love reactions and seeing someone's face light up.

What is there not too love about this time of year?!! In case you couldn't tell, its my favourite month. And the snow is falling so gracefully outside. It couldn't be more perfect. Yippee!!! 'Tis the season!! And I am jolly!!! Fa la la la la la la la la.

And the flu trudges on.

I would like to tell y'all that we are doing much better but I can't. I thought I was better this morning but my cough seems to have worsened. You can hear a symphony of coughs in this house. Everyone is coughing. Although I am going to send Skye to school tomorrow and try to trudge through the snow to take Matthew to the eye doctor's, none of us are in top shape. In some ways, it feels like we never will be. My pastor's praying and his got it good with the big guy so it won't be long.

I'd even like to say that going a week without work is great but it is not. Especially when you are bed bound and you haven't stepped outside since last Monday. It will be nice tomorrow to be out in the 'fresh' air. I am attempting work on Tuesday too!!

The flu.

I was planning to update a lot sooner than this but I got the flu. I have been extremely sick and in bed all week. As I am typing this right now I feel like falling over. My daughter also has the flu and has been out of school all week. My son has scarlett fever. So none of us are in good shape. If you'd like, you could pray for us. Hope everyone is having a much better week than I am.

So this is Christmas.

I've been struggling with the idea of Christmas coming. I know how it originated and by whom. Really, I didn't think I would ever have to contemplate Christmas. It is absolutely my most favourite holiday. It has been since I can remember and probably before that. Over the past few years as I have been growing as a Christian, Christmas has meant even more to me. Except now I am not even sure it is a right thing to be celebrating.

I am assuming most of you know the origins of Christmas already. Very quick summary: Ritual celebrated by pagans before Christ was even born. Adopted by the Roman Empire to worship the God they called Saturn to celebrate the shortest day of the year which represented winter being over soon. The Catholic church wanted to detour from pagan traditions and marked the 25th of December Jesus' birthday. Christmas trees and mistletoe were symbols of the pagan traditions.

So, now that I know this and you do too. What do we do? I am thinking that it is not a sin to celebrate Christmas if you are doing it to reflect on God and who He is. I do however think that this should be a daily thing and not a once or twice a year celebration. If you are celebrating Christmas and all you think about is presents and parties and greed and the whole commercial aspect of it then you need to reevaluate your motives and your priorities.

I have celebrated Christmas most of my life but mostly for the idea of family, decorating, Christmas morning traditions, and I would be lying if I didn't say presents. Christmas has always had a special aura about it. I have found that at the beginning of December everyone is preoccupied with the commercial aspects of the season, getting drunk, over spending, over indulging, Santa Claus etc.. And I have seen people on Christmas day be preoccupied with greed and forgetting the whole meaning of giving/receiving. But I have also seen the opposite.

In my family, we don't care what we receive. We all feel the love in the house. We all celebrate together. Christmas should be about love, about hope, about grace. All things which Jesus showed and gave us before and after his death. Its not about commercialism and its not about a baby in a manger its about love, hope, grace, peace and a promise. May all our eyes be opened this holiday season.

Please feel free to comment as this is still something I am struggling with. Should we as Christians give up the Christmas tree, mistletoe, presents, decorations etc?

Hey everyone!

Hi all! It's been awhile since I last blogged. I have finally moved into the new house. Things are a little chaotic around here right now. I am quite busy getting the new house in some sort of order. Just thought I'd send a little message your way to let you know that I am still alive and jumping for Jesus!! I will update again soon. Have a superb week.