day 17: in my fridge

These days I'm trying to fill my fridge with healthy foods, trying to feed my baby the right things, but hey.. it's autumn and autumn means pumpkin, so... if you look into my fridge you will see the tastiest treat - pumpkin spice latte cupcakes. want one? come on over!!

thanksgiving

happy thanksgiving weekend!

for anyone wishing they had made their own thanksgiving dinner... I put up a new post on my recipe blog, outlining the whole dinner, start to finish. you can read that here.

i have had a lot on my mind lately, I often get nostalgic around holidays, and more introspective when i'm busy (which is the case right now with being in school and working) I have also been a lot more emotional (I am off my anti-depressants and have found that the tears flow a lot more frequently, and easily. but i'm ok with that right now)

This morning in church there were so many songs that brought me to tears. i think it's also because i am becoming more aware of the holy spirit and the way that he speaks to us and nudges us - i'm doing a bible study with a few girls on the fruit of the spirit and the first two weeks have had a good focus on the Holy Spirit in general, and ways that the Holy Spirit works, etc, so I have been thinking about this a lot more. Instead of a sermon this morning, the elders of the church lead a lot of sharing time, and people were able to stand up and share what they were thankful for. I have a lot to be thankful for...
my husband, 2 wonderful families, 2 nephews and another baby on the way for me to be an auntie to, a new & welcoming church family, a house that i feel warm & comfortable in, 2 cats that keep me company and make me laugh, many friends - both here and far (bc, ontario & alaska specifically), a legacy of faith within my family and especially from the examples of my grandparents, luxuries like a nice car and a bank account that is never completely empty, the freedom to vote, to worship, to have an opinion (thank goodness or I'd be in a lot of trouble most of the time! ha ha), a love for worship and a voice that I can use in that way, a plot of land that will soon have a new home beside 2 of our best friends - josh & leah, health, a lot of laughter, the chance to go back to school & graduate this year, good jobs (that we love) and the "abundance & faithfulness of christ" (as someone put it this morning in church). and so much more, i could write for days and not be done.. which reminds me of one of my favourite lines in my favourite hymn -

"could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made. were every stalk on earth a quill and everyone a scribe by trade - to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky... the love of God - how rich and pure, how measureless & strong. it shall forever more endure the saints & angels song"

my heart is filled to overflowing with thanks!

reign in us

this morning at kilcona we sang a song that is still fairly new to me, but i just love it
it's called "reign in us" by starfield

pastor bruce is starting a series on the abundant life, (abundant giving, abundant joy and abundant freedom are 3 parts of the series) and the contrast to that of the desires of satan on our lives to steal, kill and destroy - and satan is playing for keeps.

i've always loved the fact that Jesus came to give us a full abundant life. a life to over flowing. bruce made a light hearted comment about people who love coke.. that if you over fill your cup and it spills over, you slurp it off the counter because you don't want to miss any of it. imagine a life like that, where it is so over full of joy and freedom that you are slurping up every last bit rather than sitting idly by, somewhat satisfied with whatever is filling you up.

we sang the song i mentioned earlier, reign in us, this morning during worship, and there were a few lines that just stuck with me

with one desire we come, that you would reign in us

and

we cry out for your life to revive us
cry out for your love to define us

is that how i'm living? with that desire, for that revival and definition? i so want that. but am i daily seeking that abundant life that is offered to me?

i had the privilege of spending the day with some friends & family, everett included
my mom and i have talked many times about how watching everett makes us understand why God says "let the little children come" - ev knows how to live an abundant life. with no inhibitions he shows his excitement, his wonder, his curiosity, his freedom, and it is contagious to be around him.

we spent the day at a bizarre pumpkin patch, you'd have to see it yourself to understand it, but, as my sister said later, the redeeming factor was how much Everett enjoyed it. the way he enjoys so many things, with eyes wide open.

can you imagine how overwhelmingly wonderfully abundant the life is that God wants for me, for you? and it comes when we just simply ask him to reign. but it has to be daily.. and i'm working on it. i'm really looking forward to this series.

here are the rest of the lyrics to that song:


You thought of us before the world began to breathe
You knew our names before we came to be
You saw the very day we fall away from you
and how desperately we need to be redeemed

lord Jesus
come lead us
we're desperate for your touch

Oh great and mighty one
with one desire we come
that you would reign that you would reign in us
we're offering up our lives
a living sacrifice
that you would reign that you would reign in us

Spirit of the living God fall fresh again
come search our hearts and puify our lives
we need your perfect love we need your discipline
we're lost unless you guide us with your light

lord Jesus
come lead us
we're desperate for your touch

Oh great and mighty one
with one desire we come
that you would reign that you would reign in us
we're offering up our lives
a living sacrifice
that you would reign that you would reign in us

we cry out for your life to revive us cry out
for your love to define us cry out
for your mercy to keep us
blameless until you return

oh great and mighty one
with one desire we come
that you would reign that you would reign in us

3 klassens in a park

i spent the early evening with 3 of my favourite people - josh, leah & ev, in the park, taking family photos.
i just uploaded them all onto my computer, and now instead of going to bed, like i honestly intended to... i've been going through them, looking for some gems. this one made me smile instantly, because I think it shows the love in this family.
i will post some more once i go through them all.

the rest of the evening included uncle mikey showing up, some high quality entertainment by ev & all his musical toys, chinese food, and episodes of parks & rec.
delightful.

colors of autumn

waking up this morning i was just amazed at the colors i could see out my window
the tree in my front yard has taken on this beautiful Ombré effect of green to yellow
one side gets more sun, and it is just neat to see how it is so different on each side
then driving to work i was just in awe of the trees that have changed to a vibrant yellow
and a few red ones thrown into the mix


i just love autumn.


when other things in life aren't so sure
or aren't going as well or "beautifully" as we'd like
i think God makes us that much more aware of the simple beauty of his creation


he never turns his back on us.

september love

it is the first day of september
can you believe it??

i have been waiting 11 long months for september to come
it is my favorite
the weather cools down
the leaves change color
the hoodies come out of hiding
the fire pit in the back yard gets used
the coffee pot continues to fill up

today i flipped up the page of my calendar and i smiled
i just love september

at our staff meeting the other day the senior pastor was shocked to find out that both myself & the youth pastor LOVE autumn. he said that he just did not understand

but whether or not we could explain it properly, we were both firm on this.. we love autumn. we have autumn on the mind, all summer long. and now it's almost officially here.

 i'm excited about the things that September brings. the new starts (school, bible study), the continued projects (the retreat house, and our basement renos), exciting moments (josh & leah's ultrasound!), the warm drinks (pumpkin spice latte anyone?), routines (church! we don't go much over summer), cool evening bike rides, s'mores, thunderstorms (hopefully)... so many things.

on a different, but similar (maybe) note.. since September is the month of new things, i decided to try a new thing. i am officially a user of a diva cup. i've had mixed reviews from people i told.. but i think it was a good choice. today is my first full day using it. and besides the fact that i'm super aware of it (due to paranoia) it's doing awesome. also, it takes me about 10 extra minutes longer in the bathroom than normal.. and i don't quite have the hang of it yet to insert it properly.. but I slept all night with it, no problemo. i did, however, discover, that as exciting as this may be (for me), michael would rather not get the hourly play by play. fair enough. to spare the rest of you the details (as i'm sure some of you are already squirming - since i have one friend that can't even handle talking about being in the washroom.. you could probably say "toilet paper" and she'd squirm) i will post a link to the review that i read before purchasing. it was very thorough, and helpful, and so far, quite accurate. if you've ever considered it.. i'd say "go for it". here is the link

back to september
welcome.
i'm so glad you're here.