Where Am I Going...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2006-11-23T10:21:00.000-05:00

Ahh..thanksgiving in november I think is finally feeling like a normal, natural holiday to me! It always felt weird, because I am used to thanksgiving in the beginning of October. I really, really enjoy having 2 thanksgivings every year...it's sooo amazing. And, i'm lucky because every year brian and I won't have to be pulled one way or another as to which family to celebrate with!! We'll be able to be at both...which is fun. (at the top, me and andrea pigging out eating my mom's raw stuffing...which is only bread and spices, celery, onion. DELICIOUS.)

Well, in honor of this thanksgiving, I thought i'd post a few pictures of this past thanksgiving with my family this october!!!!! Here is the fam around the table for thanksgiving Me and my sister! Andrea just turned 16!
Andrea...isn't she adorable!? Coniston...my home town! Me, andrea and her boyfriend Max
The Fam

The Holiday Season has Come!

2006-11-20T15:55:00.000-05:00

Well...The holiday season is finally here. My husband just finished his first quarter at VLI (vineyard leadership institute) this past weekend. Now he's off for a month!! I am SOOOOOOOO proud of him. He's had exams and had to write sermons and has done such an awesome job. I am so happy for him and that he's gotten the courage to follow God's guidance and start VLI this fall!!!!!!! It hasn't been easy, as there is lots of studying and writing and reading that needs to be done, but he's gotten through it!

I am so excited to see more and more of God's purpose for our lives, and as we follow His lead.

Christmas songs

2006-11-13T18:01:00.000-05:00

The Christmas songs are making its wave through various blogs!
Tonight, I was in the computer room, while brian was in the bathroom washing up after dinner. And what do you know, I started singing a christmas song!
Brian bolts in my computer room as yells (i can hear it all in slow motion) "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Don't go on Brandi's blog! Don't go on Brandi's blog!!!"

He somehow knew that I had been singing christmas songs because of Brandi's blog. And, well, it was true. Because I had just read Brandi's new blog post about 20 minutes earlier, so I had the christmas songs in my head!!!

Well, I just thought that was funny!

Eating Orange Cups

2006-11-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

Today I sit, staring at the window sill...
Looking out at the rainy day,
Over my backyard hill;
It's raining, gray and dreary...
But on these days, to me this makes me cheery,
cool crisp air refreshes me...
nice soft raindrops, it is what I want it to be;
Oh, I sit at my chair...
Eating my gelatin orange cup,
looking out the window at that cold crisp air
The cup tells me to "go out there!"
I enjoy my orange cup,
sweet, refreshing, colorful wet and cold...
just as I enjoy these rainy days, young as well as old;
So as I sit eating my orange cup, I remember my favorite kind of days...
the dreary, cold, colorful, rainy, wet and refreshing ways,
of the good old cool crisp days;
Never will my life be the same...
After eating my gelatin orange cup again!

Crazy Geeks at "CoCo's Grille"

2006-11-09T23:14:00.000-05:00

Well, "some" people say that I always take pictures when i'm out with "particular" people, and they never see those pictures again! Well here they are, folks!
Do I even need to explain these pictures!? I have some 'funny' friends, don't I? Well...to sum it up. Brandi, Angie and I we're planning to go out for dinner. Angie wants something "different". Boy, did we get something different! Different as in, half the food on the menu wasn't available! And it's not like we went there really late, it was only, like, 7pm! Well. Angie says she wants something different, Brandi wanted 'comfort food' so we came up with 3 different cuisines. Mexican, Italian and Chinese. As soon as chinese was mentioned, I said, "lets make sure we go to a GOOD chinese resturaunt!" so angie comes up with "coo-coo's grille" (actually it's CoCo's, but coo-coo sounds more like the resturaunt. Angie acted like it was going to be this awesome place. Angie jokes around on the way there, "what if we have to order at the front of the resturaunt??" Brandi says, laughing, "I don't want to order at the front!" Well we get in, and "wheel of fortune" is playing. We also see a guy with a big gold chain, a big beer belly, with a lame blazer, and a red button down shirt half hanging out of his pants. That was hilarious. What a place! and, this was in Grandview so I guess I had my expectations a little high. We try to order things like spring rolls and egg rolls and what not, and they man kept on telling us, "sorry, none available! we don't have that." like half the items. Then, I get some rootbeer from the fountain and sweetly asked if they could change it because water was coming out. guess what I got back. "sorry! we don't have any more!" What a weird place. But we ended up having a lot of fun! Bob came in, starving and got this weird cat-meat chinese noodle plate-of-smelly-stuff. It was rank! It smelled like burnt cat. the meat looked like burnt cat, too. Bob, didn't like it! (look at the pictures!). But it was a reeeeeeeeally fun night. I'm glad I have such fun friends as these!!!!
*and yes, I have a new template, and no, I am not following in Angie's footsteps! I was tired, reeeeeeally tired of the old one and this ones is really nice and I like it!!

Ahem....forgot a name!

2006-10-19T21:22:00.000-05:00

Ahem....ahem! I forgot a special name while writing my last post about people who thinks i'm a real life walking talking legend. I forgot to name ROBERT! (I am truley sorry, Robert!) But ya know, i pretty much take it as a HUGE compliment that he wrote to me saying I didn't put HIS NAME in the list of PEOPLE WHO THINK I'M A LEGEND!
Now this is for real. I MUST be a legend now, since I have people commenting wanting me to put their names in for people who think i'm a legend!
thanks, Robert! you're definetely in my post now!
Thanks for the compliment!

I think that is absolutely HILARIOUS.

now, have I forgotten anybody else? I'd be MORE than happy to put your name up! I know you guys need to make sure that your on the list of "legendooooers".

Being a Legend is a big job!

2006-10-19T15:56:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh...have any of you ever wondered about actual LEGENDS? you know, those special people that the common human kind can't get off their mind. Usually legends are very brilliant people, too. Well, you've come to the right place, becuase I am a true, tried and tested LEGEND! I know I know, your wondering why? Well if you come anywhere 5 miles within grove city, or COLUMBUS for that matter, you'll hear talkings about a particular person talking about freckles being in places that the sun doesn't see and private parts in my journal. Also dancing. Dancing i have to admit makes me a legend because when people see me dance, they get very excited! they love it!

Being a legend means that people are actually still talking about things you've said and done, even if its like 4 months later! (hilarious!)

I thought it up to go on to http://www.dictionary.com and really find out what a legend, like me, is!

6. a collection of stories about an admirable person.

7. a person who is the center of such stories: She became a legend in her own lifetime.

8. Archaic. a story of the life of a saint, esp. one stressing the miraculous or unrecorded deeds of the saint.

Well...would you look at this!???? Brandi, Brandy, Craig, Kendra, Amanda, Angie, for alllll the people who went to nicaragua with me and beyond, for all of you who consistantly remind me that I am, indeed a legend, THANKS! because I really really like the definition, and I think those definitions are very true of me, indeed.

Thanks, honey's!

I'm Baaaaaaaack!

2006-09-25T21:29:00.000-05:00

Well, I know this is very late in coming, but I hadn't had time to post! I've had people say, "post! post!" so finally, I took the time to write. I wrote this letter initially to all my family in canada and brian's in the states, as a thank you for donating towards my trip. so I wrote this a month ago, and it just NOW occured to me that I can post my nicaragua experience on here! that'll quench your "where am I going.."readers thirst.

Upon arriving at the airport, I was very excited to get on a plane for the first time! I had to wake up at 3:30 in the morning, but I didn't feel tired at all. I said by to Brian, and went off with my team to go through the luggage, tickets, and waiting. I got on, and was able to sit by a window! The plane took off and it was the most amazing experience. It felt like a giant roller coaster. It was perfectly clear and got to see all the way down to the ground. We arrived in Texas safe and sound, and literally had to go straight to the next plane with no stops. We got onto the plane heading to Nicaragua. I sat beside a Native Nicaraguan girl. She was about my age. She had lived in Seattle to get some decent education and was returning home to live. She told me all about Nicaragua, some of the language, names of volcanoes, and more. It was a great first experience of meeting a Nicaraguan. From the airplane I saw volcanoes, lakes, and rocky landscape.

A while later we arrived in Nicaragua. We we're all very tired by this point, and the line in customs was very long. We got through it with no problems! We met up with the full-time missionary, Doug Effinger, and waited for the bus. We had one bus carry our luggage and another bus carry us. It was a very squishy bus! We had a 2 drive from Managua to Jinotepe. I sat by the window and got my first taste of this poor country. It was very difficult to see. Very poor, beggars all over the streets, dirty with garbage, tin houses, some even without roofs. Most people didn't have electricity or anything. I was already pretty tired, but seeing all this stuff was mentally draining on me. On a good note, the view from the bus on the bus was awesome. Rolling hills, volcanoes, tropical trees everywhere, very blue skies...it's a beautiful country.

When we arrived at the orphanage in Jinotepe, we were all, by this point, very tired. We got all our stuff in our rooms and just relaxed for awhile. The area we stayed at, Arms of Love, is a huge property that spreads out into the jungle. There is a boys home, another home that they are currently building for more orphans, A basketball court, a pool that they are currently building as well, and a team house. We stayed at the team house. The team house was very nice. It was as Spanish as it can get. Marble floors, everything wide open, courtyard, and a big veranda with two hammocks. The view from the veranda was magnificent. It was the jungle, and there was a giant volcano in our views sight. In the sitting area, there were rocking chairs you could sit on and let the cool breeze hit your face. We just relaxed our first night, and ate dinner. (which, by the way, was some of the most delicious food I've ever eaten!)We slept in bunk cots. I had a fishnet to protect me!

Every morning we did devotionals with our group, and one person each morning had to teach. Then we would go sit on our rocking chairs until breakfast. Most mornings, breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs with peppers and hot sauce, rolls, and fruit. We had pure juices like mango, passion fruit, and a purple juice that actual came from a cactus! Our lunches and dinners were at the same time everyday, and they consisted of rice, beans, chicken, rolls, salads. It was something different everyday. Like pineapple chicken, chicken soup and so on. It was all delicious.

Every day after breakfast we would get straight to work. One team (I was on this team) painted every day, the outside of the team house. Another team, (mainly the youth) digged holes to build a fence. At the end of our trip, the full-time missionaries told us we did double the work that they expected in that time frame. What a blessing to hear that! We would work through to the afternoon, until the boys got home from school and were done homework. Which was about 4pm. Then we would play with them! Play sports, blow bubbles, teach them how to build paper airplanes. The boys were beautiful kids. They melted my heart so much! I heard some of their stories and they were very tragic. I enjoyed spending time with them so much. Just loving them. I got to sit in English classes that a teacher on our team was teaching. I got to help out teaching them to talk in English sentences. These classes were for the older, teenage boys. The boys ranged from 3-17. All the boys were so unbelievably adorable. In the Arms of Love orphanage, they learn about Christian values and are taught the bible, go to church, have nightly bible studies and so on. We got to participate in one of their nightly bible studies, which was one of the most amazing experiences there. One of the house mothers taught it, and she only spoke Spanish. We had someone there to relay what she was saying in English. Some of the boys would talk about Jesus during the study. Then, we had musical worship where everyone sang, with guitars and bongos. We sang in both English and Spanish! It was a very wonderful experience.

The only days we did not work were Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday we took a leisure day out into the ancient city of Granada, which is apparently the oldest city in all of the Americas. It had huge cathedrals, old hotels and little shops on the street. First, we took a boat ride on Nicaragua Lake. Nicaragua lake is gigantic. It's fresh water, but there are actually fresh water sharks that live in this lake. (I didn't know fresh water sharks even existed!). We took a boat ride around all the little Islands, including monkey island which was full of wild monkeys! They just sat around the rocks and hung from trees. Our leader said they would have come onto the boat if we remembered the bananas! We rode around all the little islands with hutches and homes. The architect was amazing on some of these homes. It was definitely where more of the wealthy Nicaraguans lived. After that, we walked around the city and looked at the different cathedrals, and old ancient signs and buildings. We also went shopping there, too. There were lots of beggars, including this one little girls and boy who followed me everywhere. We ate lunch at a pizza place, which had delicious pizza there! The people were so nice, and the service was fantastic. We drank from glass coke bottles that read 1995 on them. After lunch, we headed out to the volcano! We actually went on top of a big volcano and looked down into the crater, which was a lake. People lived in the craters and everything. From that view we saw another big volcano. It was the most beautiful view I'd ever seen. We also did more shopping there, as well.

We saw turantula's and crazy looking bugs. Some saw scorpions as well! And, get this: believe it or not, i wasn't even scared! Well, i DID have a net over my bed which kept me safe, (and smart). But yeah, we had lots of turantula sightings in our team house. I didn't even wear my 98.11 % deet bug spray, in which i am paying for right now. I still have bites that just won't leave, and scars.

On Sunday, we went to a Vineyard Church in Las Palmas, about 2 hours away from our orphanage. Everybody went, including the girls from the girls orphanage. Can you believe that people drive 2 hours each week to go to church? That's amazing. The church service was one of another great experiences. The worship time was awesome. They sang the same songs that we have in our church, except in Spanish. I sang along, reading from the screen. It was a wonderful time. After church, we headed over to the girls orphanage. (the girls and boys stay separate right now, and we stayed in the boys home. Some of them are siblings.) We ate a big lunch at the girls home and spent time with the girls the entire afternoon. I bonded with a girl name Luce. She was about 13 years old. She was very peppy and spirited. (she was rating the boys on the mission trip from 1-10 on how cute they were. She showed me her scrapbook of pictures, and her time in that orphanage. Her story is extremely tragic. Her mother put her out on the street to beg when she was about 7 years old. She got run over by a bus, (pedestrians have no right of way in Nicaragua) and her entire leg broke. Her mother, instead of getting her help, put her back on the street to beg because cripples get more money. Her leg was broke for a very long time and when they took her away, it hadn't healed properly. She was very sweet. Some of the other girls, as well, showed me their scrapbooks! It was so much hotter in the city than in Jinotepe, which is in the jungle and on a big cliff, so we got cold breezes. Another thing about Nicaragua is that it is winter season there. It gets dark at 7pm. It's much cooler too, than I expected, which was good!

I bonded lots with the boys. Especially a few in particular. On our last day, I savored the time I was spending with them, as I knew I wouldn't see them for a long time after that. Each and every one of the boys gave me a big, big hug. Some of them squeezed me SO tight, I couldn't breathe. I cried, and was very sad to say goodbye. Even Luis cried! But on another note, I did miss Brian like crazy. I had to spend my 3 year anniversary in Nicaragua, away from him. When Brian picked me up from the airport, he had 1 dozen red roses, my favorite chocolates and a big anniversary card. He took me out to eat after that, Tony's Where we had our wedding reception.

The trip was an experience of a lifetime, in fact, these sorts of trips may be a bunch of experiences in my lifetime. I am already thinking about going on another missions trip next year. I plan on going again and again. Maybe Nicaragua, but maybe somewhere else. I am very excited to see what God has in store for me!

If you would like to see all my pictures from my trip, you can go online.

http://www.brianstevenson.com/missiontrip

Our small group with the Highschool Ministry!

2006-07-12T16:13:00.000-05:00

Well! here is our group from the highschool ministry at 208. Actually, this isn't even everyone, but it's most! Well...I have a great story to tell. Our group is so great! Mary, has had a few griefs lately and we all decided to take food to her! afterwards, we went to applebees and stayed for 3 hours!! Isn't that great? You don't expect teens much these days to go and do this kind of serving. it's awesom! our group is really bonding! At 208 highschool ministry last week, Brian thought of a game of modeling toilet paper. nick was his model. This is our team! we WON!

This picture is hilarious. I can't even explain it, really...Nick doing something weird at applebees. Taylor is looking at him like he is weird! Well...we all played the hero game where we think of a hero that reminds us of that person in the group. Brian was Batman, I was Catwoman, Aaron was the Joker, Holly was Electro girl, Rachel was penguin, and Nick was robin! I forget what Taylor was...

All in all...it was a great night!

6 Years Together on This Day!

2006-07-11T15:45:00.000-05:00

WOW! Today is the 6th year anniversary that brian and I have been together, dating and marriage! 6 years! can you believe that? It feels like a milestone.

Delicious & Fresh Shrimp and Tomato Pasta

2006-07-11T14:53:00.000-05:00

Here's another delicious recipe. It's very healthy, as most of the ingredients are natural, veggies and greens and protein. And of course, I posted more pictures! Actually, this time I have
step-by-step pictures.
Fresh Shrimp & Tomato Pasta

Ingredients:

8 oz of dry angel hair pasta
3 cloves garlic
1/2 sweet onion, cut into wedges
oregano
4 tbs. EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
4 medium tomatoes, chopped
basil
salt & pepper
1 cup fresh spinach leaves
1 lb cooked shrimp
8 oz fresh mozerella cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain.
In the container of a food processor, combine the garlic, onion and oregano. Pulse until finely chopped. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion mixture; cook and stir until fragrant and almost golden. Mix in the tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes while the pasta is cooking, stirring occasionally.
Mix in spinach until it wilts, then just before the pasta is done, stir in the shrimp. Cook until heated through. Toss with pasta in a large serving bowl, and mix in mozzarella cheese.

serve with a garden fresh side salad!

Enjoy!

This makes me M-E-L-T

2006-07-07T11:08:00.000-05:00

Isn't this picture adorable??? It really just melts me! I have a really big computer moniter, (approx 20 in) and I have THIS picture as my wallpaper. It makes me smile. My two favorite people right there. Brian and Mr. Mittens. It's just soooo precious! I had to share it here.

Amazing Taco Soup!

2006-07-05T15:04:00.000-05:00

Wow...I mean, WOW! This is really really good stuff. It's like chilli, cause its thick, but it's soup. You throw it in the crockpot at the begining of the day and POW! BAM! SHAMMAN! you have a delicious meal. The secret behind the delicious taste is the packet of taco seasons! Well here's a picture and the recipe for all you who would like to make a great dish! The Best part is is that its healthy for you as well.

Crockpot Taco Soup

Ingredients: 1 onion, chopped
1 can chilli beans
1 can black beans
1 can or frozen pkg. whole kernal corn, drained
1 8oz can tomato sause
2 cans diced tomatoes w/chilies, undrained
1 pkg. taco seasoning
3 large chicken breasts

Place onion, chilli beans, black beans, corn, tomatoes & tomato sause in slow cooker. Add taco seasoning, stir. Lay chicken beast on top of mixture, press down until covered. Cook on low for 5 hours. Remove chicken breast, cool & shred. Stir back in crockpot. Cook another 2 hours. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and tacos, if desired.

See this picture!? This is how much my husband loved it! he has a stain on his shirt!

Brian's B-day!

2006-07-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

On brians 27th birthday, (sunday, but we celebrated on saturday) we went out early in the morning and ate at Ponderosa's Breakfast Buffet. I had a coupon for 2.00 off. The food was pretty good...I got some older ladies to sing happy birthday to him!
After that, we went to Magic Mountain on the East side. It was the first time we went on the East side cause we ALWAYS go to the Polaris one. We did 2 rounds of putt-putt and 1 round of go-karts. I LOVE doing putt-putt with this guy. it's hilarious cause i'm as good as him, (if not better). I came in with the mindset of BEATING HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I never have before, and this time I was gonna. He pretty much sucked at first. I got a hole-in-one, and everything!
In one of the holes, he got his ball lost! he had to go get another one at the desk. it took him 6 tries to get it in then on the 6th one he lost it.
Well...I was SOO excited cause I am thinking, "ha-im gonna win this time!"well I count them up. the half way mark was me: 25, him: 31. then the second half was me: 31, him: 24! HE BEAT me by one measly score! Oh man, was he jumping around, too....
SO I think..."but I can still beat him, we still have round to do, i'll beat him! Well what do you know
We got a complete TIE. Brian was happy with his one score winning...but i'll beat him next time.
Did you know he proposed to me at magic mountain? Yep...at the polaris one, on the 16th hole. This is absolutely my very favorite summer date with him. We've always been the "fun" kinda couple that likes doing really fun stuff. For our honeymoon, we went to Cedar Point for 2 days and then Kelley's Island, then Put-in-Bay. This month, for our anniversary celebration, I want to go camping, maybe at Delaware state park. we would rent a boat for the day, go hiking, that sort of thing. I don't know when we'll do it because i'm gone to Nicaragua but we'll find a time to do it...Well. We were sooo tired from the sun when we got home. It was HOT on saturday!

Our Garden!

2006-06-22T20:28:00.000-05:00

Here is our garden! We just started it this year. Isn't it beautiful? I really didn't think i'd have so much fun and enjoy it so much. We've been making nice salads lately with the lettus. Tonight I made shrimp pasta with Brians fresh spinach. We had a salad with the garden lettus & sugarsnap peas! delicious! and there's more to come! Tomatoes, corn, green & red peppers, peas, beans and more that I can't think of it all right now. And the awesome thing about it is that it basically costs nothing to have nice fruits and veggies!!! I mean, it was alot to START the garden, but year after year we won't have to for it, and its nice and fresh. Brian loves gardening so much! he really enjoys doing it. Anyway...enjoy the pictures!!!

Brian picking lettus, spinach & sugarsnap peas for dinner All three garden boxes His square-foot gardening method!

ha-ha! this is a funny picture of him!

We have the gardens at the bottom of our yard!

A Bad Week

2006-06-21T15:35:00.000-05:00

Man...this has been just about the worst week this year for me. My client was at the hospital this week and i had to be there all night monday & tuesday. My schedule got mixed up like crazy...I can't get into any kind of details. Other stuff as well...my week is just crazy!

My Dad's Big Blooper with a Bear!

2006-06-18T21:14:00.000-05:00

I called my dad tonight to wish him a Happy Father's day. We talked for a bit, and he recapped his memory of the Black bear. I have told this story a couple times, but he refreshed my mind and i think it is so hilarious. I just think it's crazy how many black bear and grizzly bears are in canada, especially as you go up north to where im from.
About a year ago, my dad looked out the window and there was a 500-600 lb. bear in the backyard. Normally people would get scared and look out the window through the blinds or something. But not someone from sudbury...oh
no. Dad actually grabbed his camera and went out on the deck to try and get some pictures. He actually got down in the yard to about 10 feet away from the bear and started to take snapshots. The bear turned his head toward dad, grunted, and dad ran back to the deck. A few minutes later, as the bear was walking into the neighbors back yard & behind their garage, dad gets down and follows him!!! (with his camera in hand, of course....) The bear actually starts crossing the road and dad continue to follow the black bear down the road, taking pictures!!! I asked, "I can't believe you risked your life to take pictures!" He said, "I don't think of it as even risking my life, if the bear would have started coming to me, I would have ran!!!" I asked, "what if the bear ran faster?" he just said he'd run! WELL...a year ago, it was the talk of the town. They told everybody! including me. They talked and talked for months. I came up in May, a month or two after it happened, and they still talked about the pictures in that film camera! Well, when I got home from canada, they called me. Apparently, when dad took those "pictures" of the bear, there was no film in the camera!!!!!!! Isn't that crazy!!? He thought there was film, and he was clicking away, but none! zippo! What a downer... So basically, I asked him..."so you risked your own life following a bear for non-existent pictures!?" and he says, "don't worry! bear season is coming up again and when another bear comes near, ill be ready with my camera!!! I'll get one, don't worry..." Will he get a snapshot? I don't doubt. We have bears all the time in that town because of all the bush. Will I worry? Of course I will. My Dad is pretty crazy. He's an overweight mafia-blood italian. (Yes, we have ancestors/relatives that were/is in the mafia, some were part of a chicago mafia). Every single year on Good Friday, him and a group of guys go to this cabin where there is a lake. (remember, this is canada and its usually 75% ice on the lake still.) They go in a sauna, get really hot and then they jump in freezing cold water! (some years, they've had to cut holes through the ice to jump in). So yes, my dad hangs out with giant bears and jumps in freezing water. Hmmm...maybe he IS a bear! Ha-ha...

Me, Dad and my sister Andrea this past Spring when I drove down to canada for the first time by myself!! Notice the woods in the window behind us?

The 6 Mile Bike Ride

2006-06-17T15:25:00.000-05:00

Brian and I went for a bike ride after work on Friday, with the new (used) bikes he bought us! I had gone last year with my friend to a real nice bike trail called "three creeks". It's so beautiful and natural there! you can do a 10.5 mile bike ride that loops around, a 5 mile one, or smaller one. It takes you through the wilderness and little hills and bridges, with pretty ponds! I loved it! we went on the 10 mile ride but did 6 Miles, which is actually pretty good! We rode for an hour. It was soooo nice to get out together and enjoy the outdoors and get GREAT excersize. We're gonna try and do this once a week and next time we'll bring a sandwich and doritos!

Pool + Workout = Great summer!

2006-06-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, angie and I went out to Vito's and then afterwards checked out her club pool. It seemed cold, but we got out bathing suits and went in anyway! we had SO much fun! We both got darker, (yes, angie. you DID get a tad darker). we stayed in the pool for a while! Then, this morning, she called me up to go workout + swim at her clubhouse! I jumped at the idea cause I really wanna workout, and its free and with a friend, that makes it fun. We worked out for awhile, and man...my legs felt wobbly and couldn't feel them! I hadn't worked out in a while. Angie went a while more! Then swim....aaaaaaaah. it was warmer than yesterday by 2 degrees but felt 10 degrees warmer cause the sun was out with no clouds and no wind! we had a blast. I can't even tell y'all, (yes, i said y'all) how much I love doing this! It felt so good today to get out and workout and then go swimming. Since i've moved here, I really haven't enjoyed real water/pool/lake swimming. And now I am! I grew up going to the beach, (YES ITS A BEACH) every day all day when I was a kid. so going to the pool with angie yesterday and today is just making summer more fun! even though it won't last long, its cool to have a friend 5 minutes away who is not working. I work, but I get all my days free and don't work from wednesday-saturday, (even though I am full-time). I love it. But its awesome to have someone to hang out with during the day! (sometimes I get bored.) When I got home, I was so tired from the workout and swimming I collapsed and vegged out most of the afternoon. But it was nice...I took a nap.

In the Year 2000...

2006-06-13T20:39:00.000-05:00

In summer of 2000, Brian and I started dating! I always get like this during the summer because we started dating on July 11, 2000, so in less that a month we had been together for 6 years! that's over half a decade. And we got married in August, of 2003. So in the summer, I always go back to memories.

Top: we spent the next entire day at
CN Tower!

Date Night with Brian!

2006-06-13T15:13:00.000-05:00

Last friday, Brian took me on a cheap but sweet date! First, when I got home, I saw two bikes in the driveway! He had surprised me with 2 bikes for us! Yay! now we can ride together and go on trails and excersize and stuff. If anyone has a bike out there and wants to go riding, let me know! Anyway...we went to Long John Silvers, (lame, but we love that place!) it was fun. Then we went to the UDF on Georgesville. We wanted to get those blizzard-like icecreams. This old sweet lady comes to the counter and asks us how she can help. Brian says, "how do you guys make the 'blizzards'?" She gets all into it saying, "well, first I put a soft serve icecream in, in THIS cup, then some candy bar bites, about 3 scoops, and mix it!" then brian asks, "can you put some reese's at the top?" and she comes right up to him with a sweet little face and goes, "whatever makes you happy! if you want reese's at the top, we can do that for you, im sure!" and she winked! It was hilarious and I burst out laughing. Then we came home and spent time together. That was a cheap but fun date! instead of red lobster,we went to long johns, and instead of graeters, we went to udf! heheh..it was fun.

Heinz Ketchup in USA & Canada

2006-06-09T10:53:00.000-05:00

Another thing on Ketchup...Heinz for that matter. Heinz ketchup actually tastes different in Canada than it does the states! And I didn't realize this until a year ago when I went to canada for the first time in 2 years. When I went back to canada, and had ketchup, (my family, is obbsessed with heinz) I hated it! It was hard to get used to. It was MUCH MORE sweeter than the heinz in the states. I think the whole canada/usa food company thing is weird. You guys call it "Nabisco" and the same brand we call, "Mr. Christi" you guys call it, "Digorno pizza," and we call it, " Delissio", you guys call it, "corndogs" we call it "pogos", you call it "restroom," we call it "washroom" (isn't that in fact, what you do? WASH your hands?) You call them "semis" we call them "transports". and the list goes on and on and on...why can't it just be the same! You guys don't think this is much of a big deal, but for me who's lived in both countries, its just...weird! especially when I ask a store owner or at a restuaraunt or coffee shop, "where is your washroom?" they go, "the what??" i've literally had so many weird looks because I've used the word "washroom" or "transport". Anyways...im done on the whole canada/usa speil. But yeah, heinz tastes different in the two countries. its not the same.

Found the Answer on Fancy Ketchup!

2006-06-04T20:22:00.000-05:00

It seems other people had the same question....

Monday August 9, 2004
Previous Next
Dear Yahoo:
What makes some ketchup "fancy"?

Jason Latham, New York

Dear Jason:
As far as Ask Yahoo! can tell, "fancy" ketchup is just an example of assertive product marketing. We couldn't determine any specific ingredients that transform plain old ordinary ketchup into spectacularly fancy ketchup.
Many of the ketchup packets found in fast food restaurants are labeled "fancy ketchup." These handy packets are manufactured by a company called Portion Pack Inc., which describes its flagship product as "a tangy, sweet and spicy ketchup with a rich tomato flavor and a note of onion and garlic." Perhaps it's the onion and garlic that vaults it into the fancy category.
The venerable Ketchup FAQ doesn't find anything fancy about fancy ketchup: "I think fancy ketchup is similar to catsup, again just another name." In other words, a rose by any other name smells as sweet.
Eric Spitznagel, author of the "Junk Food Companion," reminisces that he had several lengthy childhood debates over this same issue. In the end, however, the only discernible difference he could note between fancy ketchup and regular ketchup was that the fancy stuff is only available in fancy restaurants -- like McDonald's

Fancy Ketchup. A Mystery.

2006-06-04T20:06:00.000-05:00

On Friday I went back out with angie for her interview @ Smokeybones. First though, we went for a bite to eat at Josiah's...YUM. As I was about to grab some ketchup, (or CATSUP, on more correct terms...) And it said, "Fancy Ketchup" What does this mean!!?
Does anybody know what it means when it says on the bottle of ketchup, "Fancy Ketchup"? I mean, how could ketchup be fancy!! It's only tomatoes and sugar, corn syrup, etc...! Please let me know what this means if you do.

MY Rendition of mine & Angie's day in the Rain

2006-06-03T15:36:00.000-05:00

Wow...I guess this is what I get for hanging out with Angie!!! I cannot even explain it all here in my blog all the crazy, cool whacky adventures happened on thursday. We we're both bored @ home with nothing to do. So Angie calls me and says, "want to do 'nothing' with me?" I say, "sure!" We went out to pick up applications at some resturaunts in Grove City. Everything went fine, but then it started raining reaaaaally hard. We got soaked going into Maurice's !! We went in, and had a good time looking around for some clothes. Angie tries on a sexy li'l number, some nice jeans. They fit her oh so well! (hahha) no really, they did. Then, believe it or not, the power went out!!!!! The lady gave us a 10% off coupon which was awesome. Then, angie couldn't find her jeans. She literally started completely panicking! It was kinda entertaining to watch. I just said, "the lady behind the counter has them, probably!" luckily, she did...
When we were at the register to check-out, this "whisperblackladywhisper" (sorry, Angie, had to steal it...) was standing around talking. Angie mentioned something about working at the church and she goes, "oooh myah! and i've been cussin' up a stohm hear infront of you" angie says, "don't worry, I don't work at the church anymore!" and the black lady goes, "praise God!" What a character! you just don't see the same kinda characters in Canada...at least not in sudbury where 80% of the population is Italian or french, or both, like me! Well then she looks at me and says, "you must work at the church, don't you? you look like you work at the church!" I said, "why?" She said, "You look like a church girl!" I was astonished that she would think that! I've been called that I look like a Teacher, but never church girl! Hahahha... I asked her why she thought that. Well she said cause what i'm wearing and I have my hair all up and stuff. Then angie comments, "you wouldn't think she was a church girl if you saw her hair down! take it down, tanya! wave it all around and take it down!" So i did and the lady shuts up. I like wearing my hair up cause it's outta control if I leave it down!

Well anyway...after that, we were hungry. It took us all of an hour and a half to try and find a place! We went to Vito's and I ask, "do you want to eat here?" she says, "well...I feel bad bringing you to a pwace you aw-aw-aweady been!" I burst out laughing so loud that I almost shattered the windows! "aw-aw-aweady been!" So we decide on planks, but its blocked by a police. then Josiah's , but there are FLOODS everywhere! I almost went into one and angie kept telling me, as i was going into the flood with my 1 year old car, "keep going! dont' stop! keep going, accel! accel!!" I stop and back up. Angie, is that why every one in Texas dies because of floods? cause they do what you told me and keep going! accel into the water! don't stop!

Well we decided on Cate's, and all of a sudden the rain stopped and it actually got clear! It was like heaven opened up! Well the food was delicious! I was so tired by the time I got home, I put my pjs on and laid in bed with brian, "who was sick, poor guy..." and I get another call from Angie!

Her computer is broken and needs to go to Micro-center to fix it. Well...we head on out and apparently all she needed to do was take the battery out!

When I got home, I went to bed...I was tired.

Memorial Day Weekend

2006-06-01T11:04:00.000-05:00

Last saturday, Mary, Angie & I we're supposed to go to the Victorian Village yardsales, but they had changed the date to this weekend! So we decided to go have breakfast @ First Watch, and then went to the north market. It was a lot of fun!! Angie kept bugging us to eat the really hot sause! NO WAY! hahahah...she picked up a poor stranger who was taking our picture to eat it!
He was shocked that it was hot but that's about it. I was expecting the guy to fall on the ground in tears. Hmm...maybe it wasn't THAT hot? The guy actually bought a bottle of the stuff, (probably just to show off). Then...while mary was getting some chocolates, Angie and I stood around the fish area, admiring it. I ducked down to be her height...man it was weird. She would probably think it was weird to be a foot taller too, though. Anyway...we had lots of fun!!! The place smelled very odd...seafood, chicken, icecreem, chocolates, vegetables, fruit in more all in a room. It was so beautiful outside with all the nice plants and flowers! Then we went bathing suit shopping at target, that was fun! Well now I need someone to go this weekend to the Victorian Village sales...anyone interested?

When I got home, Brian had just got out of the house, ready to do yard work. That plan didn't hatch, but for the rest of the weekend we did lots of work. Last october, Brian and I planted a sweet baby blue spruce in our front yard, (along with two white flowering pear trees) and the spruce is over a foot taller than it was. That spruce is my little baby. I love him. I want to name him something...but it's gotta be good. I'm thinking maybe call it Flannigan! (that's what the name of our blue honda was until we got rid of it). Anyway...im so excited about it because its so so big. it was barely up to my knees when we first planted it. Every day, lately, it's been bigger. Well sunday was crazy cause I had to get called into work, plus DT300, plus sleeping somewhere in their....But all in all, we planted shrubs and plants and it was fun. Monday we went to a "cookout" as americans would call it, at Steve and Jessica's. It was a very busy weekend. I am very excited for this summer! It should be lots of fun...

Starting Fresh with my Blog!

2006-05-29T21:25:00.000-05:00

Alrighty, guys! I'm back & hopefully i'll start writing here in my blog again. I've gotten lots of people asking what happened! I honestly thought nobody read it. Not that that mattered or anything, but its fun when you know someone out there that you know reads your stuff! Anyway...come back & I should be posting again pretty soon! LEAVE COMMENTS! I thrive on comments!

Moving Towards the Kingdom of God

2006-02-25T00:57:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered about heaven? Do you realize that what you do on earth will decide your benefits in the kingdom of God? Yes, what we do on earth will actually play a huge role in how we will live in God's Kingdom. The bible clearly states this in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

" By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."

So...What can we do on earth that would reap benefits in heaven? Well for starters, this passage tells us not to build a foundation on things that would be perishable. In the end, (or beginning) only the things you have done for God will matter. If you spend all your time trying to pursue things that does not please God, is not in God's will, or is not God's work, then in the end, it will perish! What will you have to show for yourself? If your a Christian, but do not follow God's will for your life, you will enter the kingdom of heaven, but you will be entering with nothing! Another way to put it is this: all Christians decide how to live their lives. We all have material things and have things that are perishable. We all live for things that are perishable as well. Lots of times, that comes way before God's work, and things that will last. But we will also put our energies into things that last. Prayer, the Word, God's will, love, serving others, doing God's work. These are all things that when we do go through the "fire", all the things that were perishable will be gone. Only the things we did that pleased God will stay!
I sometimes like to try and evaluate my life, it's just so easy to get caught up in things that will perish, things that will not matter when I stand before God. It's a very hard thing to do, but really...Serving God is simple. We can serve non-believers as well as believers. Things like making meals for them, being there for them if they are sick or in the hospital, going out and serving people with free pop or bagged goodies, bringing unchurched people TO church and guiding them to becoming a Christian, feeding the homeless, doing things for people that Jesus would do! Evangelizing to people, going to all ends of the earth to reach out to people. Tithing is another important thing you can do. These are just to name a few! Even little things that nobody seems to notice, God notices. He also notices how we live, and don't you want not only what we do for Him to be pleasing in His eye but how we personally live? That also reaps benefits in the Kingdom as well...How we please God with our lifestyle, how we live.

We shouldn't be so caught up with material things in our lives that we forget what we're here for. Things like money, clothes, food, TV, the latest electronics...All these can be addictions and idols that take us away from God, and that hinder our relationship with Him. We all have our own "idols" that are perishable. Matthew 6:24-31 states this pretty clearly:

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Do Not Worry "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

I don't know about you, but for me, this passage is both extremely comfortable yet uncomfortable! I love clothes and food, and yes, material things. Sometimes its really hard to put that aside and focus on God. When I say focus on God, I don't really mean just studying the word, but also living what it says. This would mean that we shouldn't let things take over how God wants us to live. Eating out is fine and buying clothes is great, but when you spend all your money on these things when your already burdened by a big debt, that's not how God would like you to live. It's totally fine to buy clothes and eat out! It's fun and part of life and can be time spent fellowshipping with others. But when it comes to be a stronghold in your life, then it's probably time to dig in the Word and prayer. I found these things becoming too much of a part of my life! Many times! It's difficult and if I'm not careful, wham! There it is again. Some people have other things that replaces there focus on God, but i'm just stating these because they are usually pretty common. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be so clearly put here in Matt 6:24-31.
I think good ways of living that is really pleasing to God, ways that I am working on, would be trying to serve my family. My husband, making dinners, keeping the house clean, (of course, he has house chores of his own) but I work with him. Serving at church, would be another important aspect. What is in your life that is taking your focus away from God? What ways of living could you do that would please God?

I don't want to come through the Kingdom of Heaven with nothing to show for what I've done for God. I want God to be pleased with the way I lived my life. That is the only thing that is going to matter. Luckily, God is a loving and understanding God and realizes that this takes time. We're always growing and learning with God. In the end of our earthly lives, when we stand before God, what do you want to hear? I know what I want to hear! "Well done, my good and faithful servant!!"

A Best Friend in a Time of Need

2006-02-24T17:33:00.000-05:00

I am so unbelievably blessed to have a best friend. A friend who knows you inside and out, and no matter what circumstances, she will always love you and be there for you. My friend, Jessica, has been there for me as a good friend since May of 2004. We first met at New Life church in January 2004. Although that doesn't seem like too long, we just got so close! It's one of those God things. Yeah, completely God. We both met through tough circumstances and were able to be there for eachother. Today I was supposed to meet her at Panera Bread so we can have a girls night out. I called and left a message cancelling because there was a particular burden that was really wearing me down. Satan had really got a hold of a worry in my life and beat me in the head with a 2x4 with it! I seriously woke up at 3:45am this morning with worry-attacks from satan. And this morning when I woke up I was weighed down with no drive. So I was cancelling dinner and evening plans with Jessica. Well when she recieved the message, she felt God wanted her to dig in the Word. She did and then prayed and called me. When we talked, she completely ministered to me and lifted me up and help me sort my worries and thoughts and just recognize satans attacks and God's will for my life. It was so awesome. God really used her today. I feel so much better. I forgot what an awesome feeling it is to have a friend who is always there for you. And I am definetely blessed. (Of course, I am still going to go to Panera with her tonight and hang out with her until only our Lord knows when!) :)

1,2,3 Times at Church

2006-02-20T16:03:00.000-05:00

Wow...I knew I was busy on Sundays, but I never thought i'd be this busy! I was back and forth at the church 3 times yesterday, basically all afternoon. I had to work on saturday night from 11:30pm-8:30am. I came home and slept from 9:30am-1pm, got ready to go to Teachers Training from 2pm-3:45pm at the church. I will be teaching sunday school to 4 & 5 year olds with Brandy Shrader. I will be doing the Spring Quarter, from March-May. I am excited to serve God with this area and teach children about Jesus. Anyway...I got home at 4pm, ate a quick meal, then left for the church with Brian at 4:40pm to get to Discipleship Training 200 at 5pm. Taught by Pastor Jason Coker. It's an awesome class and i'm very excited about it. We got home at 6:45pm, and Brian started packing for the Teen Ministry Lock In! We left home to go back to church at 7:20, to be there at 7:30pm. I got to stay until 11pm because I had to work again last night, but I wish I could have stayed!! It was a complete blast. I got to know some teens better. We played Olympic Style games. We ordered 15, yes! 15 boxes of pizza. Three pizza guys had to come and be tortured by us all cheering them on and such. I'm sure they loved it though! they recieved metals! Places were Domino's, Papa Johns and Josephi's!!! We also had cake for one of the Youth Leaders, Danielle because it was her birthday, (age unknown). Brian stayed up until about 8am! We both slept all day. But anyway...that was a very interesting Sunday for me!! I'm just glad we went to church on Saturday night instead of Sunday morning, cause then that'd make 4 times at the church. All in All, it was a great day. I love Vineyard.

A wonderful Valentine's date

2006-02-18T13:20:00.000-05:00

Last night, Brian took me out for Valentines. Last week, he had asked me if we could celebrate on Friday, February 17th. I said sure! He came home yesterday with a beautiful bouqet of flowers, a gorgeous box of chocolates, and a gigantic valentines card! we swapped gifts and then we went out. He took me to Josiah's, a small diner in downtown Grove City. It was my first time, and Brian wanted me to experience it! I was a tad shocked, because I had gotton ultra dressed up, and so did he. I wondered, "why are we so dressed up? I feel way overdressed" . It got me a little curious. Brian always loves to throw me for a loop, and surprise me! Well we had a fabulous time at Josiahs!!! Delicious food, great atmosphere, lots of fun!! Different! I really appreciated somewhere different, that's out of the ordinary. After Josiahs, we went down the road to Graeters! We got a little carried away, because we NEVER treat ourselves to expensive ice cream, and we didn't know how to buy. We just went kind of crazy and got way more than we can eat. I got a big sugar cone dipped with chocolate and sprinkles, and even though I only asked for two scoops, she gave me enough to fill the entire cone, and brian had a big bowl full. We ended up spending $11.00 for ice cream! That was a little sad. We we're so full, and Brian had stomach pains! I only had half of mine, then put it in the trunk of our car, for later. Then comes the next surprise! He took me to....
The Little Theatre off Broadway!!!!
which explains why we were dressed up. We had such a great time. It was first theater that we've ever been to together. And, it was only $9.00 a ticket. The play was titled "The Foreigner". We got seated at 7:30, and the play started at 8:00pm. It lasted until 11:00pm! (with a 15 minute intercession) It ended up being a GREAT show. I mean, real real great! WAY better than I ever though it'd be. It was about this lodge in Georgia that this old lady owned. People stayed there. This man came with his friend, Froggy. He came to get away, because his wife who doesn't love him was ill, dying on her death bed. The man didn't want to talk to anybody at the lodge, and didn't want to be bothered, so Froggy told everyone staying there that the man was a Foreigner and not to talk to him because it made him feel shameful, because he couldn't understand english. And the story goes on from there! I don't want to tell you the end, but it makes your heart feel so good inside because its a good ending. Very good actors, very good play. It's so wierd because everytime I see live plays, I think the actors look so darn silly up on the stage acting. It's just so obvious that it isn't real life. But as I get into the play, by the end, I just have such a respect for these people, it's not even funny. Anyway, if you live in columbus, especially Grove City, then go see this play! It was a great night, Brian seriously topped off any other great Valentine's celebrations that we've had, and we've had good ones. This was the best one of all!!!

A Poem to God

2006-02-17T01:35:00.000-05:00

About a year ago, I wrote a poem to God. I was just flipping around my prayer journal, and found this prayer-turned-poem. When writing, it was going to be a prayer, but I started finding words that were rhyming and voila! It's a poem. So I thought I'd share it with you.

Beatiful Peace

Sometimes I go through trials and such,

But I want You to know, that I love You so much;

Sometimes the pains of life overwhelm me,

But I still want to be as much like You as I can be;

Sometimes I don't spend as much time with You as I should,

But each day is a challenge...

If I could change mistakes in the past, Lord, I would;

Sometimes i'm tired, worn out, drained and lazy,

But when I push everything aside and focus on You...

All I see is a beautiful peace awaiting for me.

The Mystery of the Macaroni Noodle

2006-02-14T19:01:00.000-05:00

Wow. I gotta say, that this kind of thing would ONLY happen to Brian and I. I guess i'll start from the beginning...
Last night, I took on an extra shift with my company, Homewatch Cargivers, because last week, due to being sick I lost 18 hours. I worked until about 8:30, got home and made myself some Kraft mac & cheese. Brian and I just hung out watching Tv in our bedroom. I ate some, got full right away, and put the bowl (still full of mac & cheese) on my nightstand. I left it there for at least 1 1/2 hours. Throughout the night, we moved around, I got up, sat back down, so did Brian, things like that. Brian was in the kitchen when I was sitting on the bed, I noticed something on the ceiling. It was a Macaroni Noodle, just hanging from the ceiling. It looked as if it was strategically placed there. I got Brian to take a look at it and he was just as confused as me. We both thought eachother put it there. I honestly thought he did it, but I know he did not do it because he would have told me by now and I know when he's joking versus being honest. So it actually freaked me out!!!!!! It really scared me! I mean, how would a macaroni noodle end up on the ceiling like that???? Last night at work for the life of me I couldn't get it out of my head. Not only was there a mac noodle on the ceiling, but I know it was from my bowl last night because when brian took it down, it was fresh!! Well...I thought maybe a spider came down and grabbed a noodle and then took it up with him, but Brian thought that idea was ridiculous. Anyway...I don't think we'll ever know how it got up there. But at least you get an idea of how wierd Brian and I are!!!

The Infamous Mr. Mittens!

2006-02-12T20:32:00.000-05:00

Well here you have it...!! For anyone who always hear Brian and I talk about "Mr. Mittens this, Mr. Mittens that" Here are some 'model' pictures of him. Enjoy!

These are pictures of Mr. Mittens shortly after giving him "happy pills" which is apparently prozac for cats. The Vet Prescribed it cause he had a urine infection and didn't want to pee in his litter box, these pills we're supposed to calm his anxieties....Calm him it did!!!
As for the picture to the left...well I do feel sorry for Mr. Mittens that I actually posted this, but...it was too funny to pass up. Brian and I get such a kick out of this cat!! He probably looks real mean to you in this picture, but it was just a snapshot of a YAWN!!!! He's the gentlest Mittens you can imagine...Well, he's a Mister so he has to be a gentleman!!

I'm sure Mr. Mittens is dying to hear your precious comments of how you think of his modeling. Does this Little Man deserve a contract??

(Please...don't think I'm TOO pathetic for writing an entire blog about my cat...)

Servant Evangelism Today: Valentine's Edition

2006-02-11T11:39:00.000-05:00

Today I finally got to go to our church's Servent Evangelism outreach today. I haven't been able to in about a month because of things kept popping up and i've been sick as well. I love getting out in Columbus and serving people and showing God's love. It's like mini missions trips for our city! I usually like to try and go every week. Today we got little valentine cards with the suckers attached and on the back wrote "to: you! From: Grove City Vineyard" and when passing them out, we told them we were doing this to show God's love. It was just a nice little way to let people see christians and how they really should be acting!! Getting out there and serving/loving people. I did feel a tad out of my comfort zone because we were just handing them out to whoever...i'm usually more comfortable with serving type of outreaches like giving out pop (people need it on a hot day) and carwashes, and giving out free lightbulbs & scotch tape, door to door. I loved doing this and it was great, just a little out of my comfort zone!! But all in all...it was a fun morning. If you'd like to get some ideas for your church, visit the Servent Evangelism webpage.
I had a meeting this morning @ 8:30am with my co-workers at my clients home. Her name is Missy and she is MR/DD. (Mentally Retardation of Developmental Disabilities). I love her and so glad I have this job. I am very excited to get into the healthcare/medical field. Anyway...no plans today except for chores and hopefully....(putting potrack up & shelving unit in living room???) shhhh...Brians not excited about that!! haha.

My Husband and His Group go Evangelize!!!!!!

2006-02-10T23:26:00.000-05:00

I am so proud of Brian and everyone in his Men's Bible Study on Friday nights. They went out into downtown Grove City tonight to show God's love and plant some "God Seeds". Brian borrowed two "ghostbusters" hot chocolote big backpack thingy's from our church. (Thanks, Jason!) and made some hot chocolate, to give away free. I was invited (even though it's an all men's group) but unfortunately i've been under the weather and didn't want to make my cold even worse, although I will probably go next time and bring a few friends!! They gave out "million dollar" tracks, in when they read it, it talks all about Jesus Christ and how much we need him. They would hand it out with the hot chocolate, and people would read it, and seeds of truth would be planted! They are taking baby steps into the evelangelical world, so they can learn and be better equipped each time they go. I am very excited and proud for him!!!!

New Template...Sorry, Guys!

2006-02-10T13:33:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!! Well...If your coming back and the template is different then before (used to be sunflowers with yellow backdrop) I decided to change the template to one of the regular blogger's template. The sunflower template was a free one that someone just created, and I kept on having problems with it (it just didn't function like a normal blog template) So I decided to go the easy route. Initially I didn't want a "regular" blog template just because I know millions of other people would have the same one...but, oh well. I like this one so i'm just gonna stick with it!! So don't be confused if you're trying to get to my blog but see a different template...it's still mine!!!!

You know you have a Good Husband when he stays home from work just to take care of you when your sick!!!!

2006-02-09T17:18:00.001-05:00

Praise God!!!! My Wonderful, Caring and loving husband, Brian, Stayed home on Tuesday of this week because I had the flu, just to take care of me. He has done this before when I've been sick with the flu. I am so thankful for him...Thanks, Bri!!

Poems From the Heart

2006-02-09T14:56:00.000-05:00

As I have told you all, I love creativity. I love writing poems as well! Although I haven't been writing as much as I have when Brian and I were dating, I still love it. Here i'd like to share with you one or two of my poems! Enjoy!! Again, I love comments, so if your reading, please comment!! This first poem is called "Love". I wrote it when I was dating Brian, probably about...4-5 years ago. And of course, brian is reason for writing this poem!!

LOVE

Love is powerful,

Love is Strong...

Love is when you feel like you belong;

Love is to Cherish, every moment that arises,

Love is to lavis with kisses and surprises;

Love can be like a poison that flows through your Veins,

Love is a sunny day, even when it rains;

Love takes time, patience and understanding,

Love can have a little or a lot of demanding;

Love is a tender, passionate kiss...

When that happens, you'll be in bliss;

Love is when your heart skips 2 or 3 beats...

When your body shudders and it's hard to sleep.

Love from a soulmate will never go away...

It is here to forever stay

Well that was the first poem...the second is not so deep and a little more light hearted!! Again, I wrote this probably about 4 years ago. Now this poem is about when spring is coming. If you've never been to Canada and have always wondered about what spring is like in Canada, this poem is for you. Everything this poem explains is exactly the way it looks in Canada in springtime.

SPRING IS HERE

When the days are done of gloom,

And the flowers start to bloom...

Spring is Here;

When the weather gets a little more sunny,

And the snow starts to get runny...

Spring is Here;

When the roads are sandy and rocky,

And of course, a little mucky...

Spring is Here

When the snow gets black and brown,

And gets lower to the ground...

Spring is Here

When it starts to rain,

Turns snow into water that falls down the drain,

Spring is Here

When birds start to sing,

And Easter Church bells ring...

Spring is Here

When the ducks come back,

And you throw your winter coat on the downstairs rack...

Spring is Here

When children run out the door,

So they can play outside more...

Spring is Here

And when you think of the lovely winter you had,

But still...Springs Here and you are glad...

Spring is definetely here!!!!

Well there you go! Hope you enjoyed a couple of my poems!! Please let me know what you think...

My Photography

2006-02-08T18:49:00.000-05:00

Photography is one of my greatest passions. Other than God, My husband, Church, Fellowship, etc...I love taking something so simple and natural that most people would just walk by and turning into beauty, the focus of attention. I love taking pictures!!! Sometimes I will just walk around a park or my yard and just take tons of pictures when I'm bored. I just love it. So...Today I wanted to share some of my photography with you all!! Let me know what you think!

These are just some recent pictures from the Hocking Hills hike I went on at the women's retreat with our church! I thought they were pretty interesting and cool! It was a PERFECT day for taking pictures because it was misty and raining and grey outside...pictures turn out best in cloudy weather and i even got some raindrops in a few pictures! (only one shown here). Usually when I take real good photography, I like to blow them up usually turn them black and white and put them in cool frames in my house. It's a nice, cheap way to decorate my home and it shows my personality! Anyway...again, whoever is reading, please let me know what you think!!! thanks a bunch...

I have the Flu...

2006-02-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

Well sadly enough...I have the flu. A bad one at that. Anyway...the retreat was lots of fun. we hung out and goofed around, played games, we didn't go to sleep at all. I met Melissa Paquette and we hit it off! we have so much in common and we ended up talked until late in the morning hours. Me, Danielle, Brandi, and melissa stayed up all night. we were exhausted the next day though! after breakfast Danielle & Brandi went to sleep, and Melissa, Jennifer & I went on a hike with the rest of some ladies. the hike was GREAT and I took tons of artistic photography. The group got way ahead of me as I was taking photography and I got a soaker!! but it was still fun. The rest of the afternoon was pretty tiring and draining on me....I think I may have caught this bug from someone @ the retreat because I got it monday evening. Well All in all, it was a real good weekend, tiring but good. Now i cannot wait to get better because I can't stand being sick. oh well....

The Retreat Today!!!

2006-02-03T15:42:00.000-05:00

Yay!!! The Grove City Vineyard Women's Retreat in Hocking Hills is today! I am so excited to spend some time with some girls, get to know new people @ our church, relax, laugh and enjoy the scenics. Jennifer Paquette is picking me up, the two of us are going together. We're also stopping @ "Horton's" for some coffee for the ride. I am craving an "Iced Cappiccino" (sp?) I love those things! They are delicious. I am probably craving it so bad right now because I only got about 5-6 hours of sleep. My mind goes a mile a minute when i cannot sleep. I have SOOO much going on this weekend. The Retreat, and then church n' games with friends (hopefully) then on sunday maybe Fuzzoli's, and then a baby shower, then Mary Combs superbowl party, then work! My future sister-in-law's wedding shower was on saturday, but couldn't go cause of the retreat. There was ALSO a concert tonight that I wanted to go to SOOO bad. A $10 concert w/newsboys, ZOEgirl and more. But in my opinion , the retreat is so much more important because I can have fellowship with other women from our church and have a great weekend. So that was #1 on my list! Anyway...I will come back and let y'all know how the retreat comes and hopefully show y'all some pics!!! Bye!

Becoming Close to a New Friend

2006-02-03T01:48:00.000-05:00

Last night, after 208, some of the youth leaders went over to "Horton's" (as Danielle would call it) to hang out. It was fun. Brian wanted to go home early and I wanted to stay so Danielle offered me a ride home. Little did I know that it would change my life! We had a great time talking in the car. She thought my home was adorable and I told her we have red paint in our kitchen and she got real excited because she does too! I invited her in. Little did I know that we would talk NON-STOP until 5am! I mean, not just talk, but deeply talk, non-surface level. I feel like I can talk to her so openly and honestly about anything without being judged, and she feels the same. Sitting and talking, we probably fast-fowarded our friendship about 10 years! I mean, it's so cool! We're real close, and I feel like we've known eachother for years. Tonight she called and we talked from 7-11pm. I might join her small group because we click so well it might be great to serve & lead our teens together in the same small group. She is coming with me tomorrow to the Women's Retreat in Hocking Hills.

Exciting stuff

2006-02-03T00:03:00.000-05:00

Well if your wondering why my previous blog is titled "208 tonight" when the date actually says Thursday, Feb. 2nd, well I actually signed up on another blog site and Brian didn't think it was as good as blogger to I just copied and pasted. Anyway...Last night was great! I got to know a couple teens that I didn't know before, it was lots of fun and I am excited to get more involved. It's just so cool that I have this opportunity!!

208 Tonight!

2006-02-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

Well tonight is the teenage youth group @ our church, Grove City Vineyard. I had signed up a while ago to be one of the youth leaders there, and tonight I am coming...hopefully. I have a headcold, that came out of nowhere! I hate getting colds because it just stops your life for a while. I just hope I can make it. I am very excited about serving with the Youth ministry. It should be a lot of fun, (and work) but i've prayed about which ministry to get involved in and the teen youth ministry just seems to be the best fit for me. My husband (brian) is a youth leader as well and he loves it. I have already helped out and gotton involved with some teens and supporting them in various things like their concert & such. So it just seems natural. It'll be fun and a new experience as well to be able to serve God with my husband, as we've always been on opposite sides of the spectrum with serving. (Him in music, me not in music) He loves being a youth leader, and loves being a role model and mentoring some teenagers. I've already gotton to know one girl pretty well, Grace! She's awesome. We've spent lots of time with her the past couple of months (hang out at church, servant evangelism, movie, driving her to school, and more...) I am excited to get to know her more. Well I really hope I can come tonight, it's already been almost a month since I gave in my application for the Youth ministry, and I don't want to wait yet another week due to feeling under the weather. So far though, I feel alright.

Starting something new

2006-02-02T23:38:00.001-05:00

I've decided to start my own blog! At first I wondered "what's the point?" it seemed as though everyone had a blog, and I didn't get it. But now it is actually appealing to me. I love to journal my life but haven't in years. I have so much going on in my life right now that it really should be documented, so I can look back and see where my life was at that particular time. So...Voila! Here I am...