Merry December

December is officially upon us - advent has begun and the hoopla surrounding Christmas has commenced, and yet there is little to no snow on the ground. Somehow it just seems wrong, but I'm not going to complain as I know we will be plagued long enough with snow over the winter months.
As of this weekend my Christmas baking will officially be finished. When all is said and done I will have 450 cookies, 124 biscotti and a pan of nanaimo bar. It has been a very successful baking season and I have enjoyed every moment of it (Can't say that my family feels the same way because I not only denied them from doing any tasting of my baking, but I also blasted the Christmas music - but how can you not listen to Amy Grant Christmas while baking????).
This is just a small sample of some of the goodies.



My tree is up and beautifully decorated (if I do say so myself) and as per tradition, my mom gave me a beautiful new ornament this year. She has given each of us kids a new ornament on first advent for every year of our lives - I love the story the ornaments tell. It's a good tradition.

The countdown to the end of my coaching season is on. There are 5 days remaining until I have a substantial amount of time added to my week. I LOVE coaching. I have actually grown quite fond of grade 9 girls (an age I thought I would never want to repeat). And I just love the game, so to be a part of it on a daily basis is quite awesome. That being said, it's been a long season and I am looking forward to having some time to spend with me. We have provincials this coming weekend and I'm hoping the team finishes a great season well!

Oh and this I thought was just too cute not post. I like my animals. They are terribly sweet and they are extremely fond of each other. The other night this is how I found them. How can you not like them??? (Kristy and Sabrina - you cannot comment on that :)

I still have a substantial amount of Christmas shopping to do, but I am excited to spend an evening the mall, a latte in hand, listening to Christmas music while I peruse the stores. It actually sounds quite serene to me. Despite the amount of gifts I have yet to buy, I am attempting to experience Christmas simply this year. I had my first taste of a really simple Christmas last year (for those who need a reminder check back in my archives). It was in many ways a disappointing Christmas, but at the same time I was able to experience the incarnate Christ in simple ways that were extremely life giving. So, I am hoping that even though this Christmas will be a little fuller with gatherings and gifts, that the simplicity of time with family and low key days will not escape me.

Blessings to you this Advent season as you prepare for the Incarnate Christ to live and dwell among you!

A Birthday Extravaganza!

I can't believe this little dude is 2! It's incredible how fast these kids have grown up. Where did the time go?

Words cannot sum up the joy this boy brings to my life. I can't imagine life without him. He has melted my heart right from day 1. The excitement he has for me when I walk into the room is beyond sweet. What a joy it is to know that you are loved that much by a child!


Today we celebrated Gavin - the joy and delight that he is. We partied hard to say the least over a yummy brunch.

We wore digger-dozer party hats.
We devoured cupcakes.

We opened presents.
And we enjoyed good conversation and company.
G you are one awesome boy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

You & I

Last week Kristy reminded me of an artist that I had forgotten about and I have been listening to her album ever since.

Tis the Season

This is a good time of year - one my favorites actually. Due to my overwhelmingly busy schedule with work and volleyball, I have had few moments to soak in the beauty outdoors. This morning, I changed that. I don't start work until 3:30, so I decided to take some time for ME. Yup, that's right, I said ME! I got dressed, put on some warm clothes, and headed outside with the dog.

We made our way over to Starbucks to take advantage of the launch of the Christmas drinks. It seemed so cozy inside there - it made me wish I had brought a book and my ipod so that I could sit in one of the comfy chairs, sip a yummy drink and read. The dog would not have appreciated that option very much.


With a grande, extra hot, white peppermint mocha in hand, Bailey and I made our way down to the park. It had been a long while since her and I have had time to play and run in the park.


The air was not too cool, but just crisp enough and the sun was finally shining (my head appreciated that). Bailey and I ran and chased each other, sat on a bench and enjoyed our surroundings, and I sipped goodness out of a delightful red cup.


This is the time of year where I begin to make my Christmas shopping lists. I'm anxious to peruse the mall to find the perfect gifts. However, I can't do that until there is at least some snow on the ground and I can be sure Christmas music will be playing over the sound system. It just seems wrong to do Christmas shopping without those things.



I've made my lists of baking that I need to do. I'm anxious to start. On my baking list this year are the following:

• Gingerbread cookies
• Sugar cookies
• Nanaimo bar
• Sour Cream cookies
• Cream Wafers
• Peanut Butter Balls

Unfortunately the actually baking will have to wait until volleyball has come to an end. There is just too much on my plate these days. Every part of me is giddy with excitement as I begin to prepare for the Christmas season. I feel like a 5-year old kid again - It's actually a lot of fun.


I'm thankful for mornings like today where I can have time to nourish my soul and experience some simple goodness. And, today is Wednesday. The weekend is almost here. Cheers to that!

A Birthday Adventure

Once upon a time there was a girl who lived in a beautiful kingdom. The girl had everything she could ever ask for and more.

For the girl's 25th birthday, her and her friends headed out for a night on the town to celebrate. The girls put on their hottest looking attire and left the children at home.

Good food was enjoyed at the little bistro down the street where they fed on wood fired pizza and pasta.

Because these friends knew the girl so well, they planned an after dinner treat consisting of wine slushies and mozza sticks back at Madam Kristy's house. The girl was spoiled with gifts and love beyond what she deserved.

When the girl tucked herself into bed that night, she fell asleep with a smile on her face upon thinking of a beautiful evening that she had with the greatest bunch of girls in the world. She felt truly blessed to have these fine ladies in her life.

As the girl thought about the year ahead and what was to come, she prayed for more laughter, new adventures and many more good times to come.

And even though there are bound to be unexpected twists and turns in all of their lives, the girls knew that they had each other and the good times they shared by far outweighed the bad, and that they all live happily ever after.

THE END.

*please note that not all the pictures above were taken on the birthday evening - in fact only 2 were. We were negligent with the picture taking.

Dry Bones

Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
"Oh, hear the word of the Lord."
The toe bone connected to the heel bone,
The heel bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!

While doing my reading the other night for our "How to Read the Bible" group, this song immediately popped into my head and I have yet to get it out. That was 3 nights ago. It's a song a lot of people are familiar with. It's catchy (perhaps a little too catchy), but do you understand the passage it's talking about in Ezekiel? Personally I had no idea prior to reading chapter 37 this week. It's a fascinating and incredible passage to read. Bear with me and read on.

¹ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

⁴ Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath ^a]">[a] enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "

For just a little bit of a background, this particular passage is symbolizing the restoration of Israel and Judah after being in exile for many years and their recovery from their present unfaithfulness as a people. Israel and Judah have experienced the wrath of God as they have failed to remain faithful to the covenant, but despite their wickedness, God continually extends grace and mercy upon them (not without punishment for their sins though). God breathes new life into His people, His spirit dwelling among and within them.

Isn't it an amazing passage? The imagery and the story is fantastic. As children of God we are commonly described as nice things (ie - sheep in the fold of God). Rarely are we depicted as something as raw and unappealing as dead bones. But isn't that picture of dry bones in a pit more fitting for us? It isn't until God breathes life through the Holy Spirit that we become desirable creatures. I love the picture of God hovering over a valley of dead, dry bones, taking a deep breath in and blowing breath over the mass of bones. I imagine them one by one slowly taking form and coming to life, not because of anything we have done or deserved, but rather just because God desires to be in relationship with us. It's a beautiful and majestic picture of the grandeur and holiness of God.

Without the presence of the Holy Spirit moving within us, we are just a composition of bones, but when the spirit enters we are given a new life. We become purposeful. It's a beautiful thing!

"My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever. "

The Spirit of God Dances

I started getting these email devotionals not that long ago. I had heard about these emails through a friend who had also started receiving them. They are the perfect way to start the day (considering most days I begin my day on email). I wanted to share this one from this morning. The imagery is beautiful and has awakened me to the moving of the Holy Spirit. Enjoy and may you also experience the moving and the presence of the Holy Spirit in your day.

The Spirit of God dances...

"The Spirit of God dances. He can't be tamed. He won't be contained. He refuses to be confined to a weekend retreat, an evening meeting, or a moment of devotion. He doesn't follow schedules, programs, or agendas, and He doesn't wait for His name to be called.

The Spirit of God dances. He dances right under the noses of those who don't believe in dancing; and He dances right on by those who do. He dances through the assemblies of the keepers of the dance, and right on out the door—and no one sees Him go. And as the dancers continue their pantomime, the Spirit of God dances in the streets.

His favorite dancing places are those where the keepers of the dance don't want Him to go, like on smoky stages with microphones that smell of whiskey. The Spirit of God loves sinners and dances best where life spills out on the floor.

Occasionally He dances on the clean, sweet-smelling stages of the keepers of the dance—but not as often as He would like. He dances there when there is pain or grief—whenever life spills out on the floor. But usually the floor is clean and the dance is simulated, carefully choreographed by the keepers of the dance to use only those steps with which they feel secure.

The Spirit of God refuses to be choreographed. His dance is raw, new, and jerky. It's not always pleasing to the eye, but His dance is fresh in the lives of those whose floors have not been cleaned up. It isn't well rehearsed, polished, or perfect; it slips and slides, sometimes innovative and shocking and at other times just exhilarant, but it's always real.

Sometimes the dance turns to mourning, but always there's the dance. Happy dance or sad dance… the Spirit of God always dances.

Most people, even those who pride themselves in their dancing, are afraid of this unpredictable dance. They're afraid of anything they can't control; and His dance is wild, unmanageable—even mad. But most important, it's vulnerable, open to criticism—the quality they fear most. So they must create their own dance of predictable steps and prescribed routines and send all their people through dance school—or outlaw dancing altogether.

But this should come as no surprise. It has always been this way. The Lord of the Dance himself was here once, and it was the same way then. He danced on the keepers' holy days and broke their holy laws. His timing—if not His whole dance—always seemed offbeat. He wanted to turn their empty religious movements into heartfelt, joyous dancing. He wanted them to exchange the grip of the Law for the freedom of the dance. But they thought He was a clumsy dancer, always bumping into their traditions and stepping on their toes. He even danced with the wrong crowd, in smoke-filled rooms, with messy floors.

Once, describing His generation, He declared, "We played the flute for you, but you would not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' "

…and the Spirit of God dances on."

~By John Fischer

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving this year was not entirely what I had envisioned. It felt like a whirlwind of activity mixed in with a whole lot of sickness. I woke up Friday morning plagued with a nasty head cold, but I refused to let that stop me from my weekend activities. Staying in bed for the day was not on my list of things to do.

Friday and Saturday I spent all day in the gym coaching. We ended up finishing 3rd, which was awesome. The girls were great. It was incredible how much they had improved from the previous weekend. Practices this last week with the copious amounts of running lines for missed serves apparently paid off :)




Friday night, I ventured out in the blowing snow (not appreciated at the beginning of October) to Kristen's to celebrate Kristy's birthday. Her request this year for a party was us 5 girls relaxing under warm blankets, surrounded by candles and good food. I believe lots of laughing was also requested. We managed to give Kristy all of her requests. The party was perfect.

Kristy: It is a joy to be able to celebrate another year of your life with you. You are a wonderful friend and I hope that this next year ahead brings with it, awesome things for you. Love you tons!

The regular traditions of Thanksgiving took place over the course of the weekend, including one last time out at the cabin. Unfortunately the cabin resembled nothing like previous thanksgivings with shades of yellows, oranges and reds scattered all over the place. Nope, instead a white blanket of snow covered the ground and trees. I was not impressed. I was hoping to take a walk down the road with my camera to soak up some of the autumn beauty, but it never happened. Sunday I woke up and was officially down for the count in sickness. Boo to that. I had to enjoy the crisp fall air from indoors on the couch.


Despite the unplanned sickness and disappointing weather, it was still a decent weekend. I have so much to be thankful for!

Welcome October

This is my favorite month of the year. I LOVE October. It's shaping up to be a busy one, but within all the rushing around, it is also filled to brim with tons of good things.

Volleyball is in full swing at MBCI - league games begin and there are tournaments every weekend this month. I love coaching. I love getting to know these very neat girls. I love that I have been blessed with teams where there is minimal "catty-ness". These girls just want to play volleyball and that is awesome. Plain and simple.

There are some very special and important birthdays that need celebrating this month (Kristy & Me - just to name a few) and celebrate we will!


The leaves are changing spectacular shades of reds and oranges. Every year I find myself in awe as I get a front row seat to the changing of seasons and the new life that is promised once the dead of winter ends. I love how God wakes me up with the beauty of His creation. I am finding myself experiencing more "a-ha" God moments each day. I love that.








I love digging through my closest and re-discovering my long lost sweaters that I tucked away in the spring. I have a thing for sweaters. It's just what I do. I love the coziness that they offer and how comfortable I feel in them.






I love the crisp evening walks I take with my dog. I love the crunching of the leaves under my shoes as I walk along the sidewalk and I love that crispy feeling on my cheeks.








I love the Pumpkin Spice Lattes I have been indulging in over the last few weeks. October means all things pumpkins and I am all over that!

I love the smell of far off burning fields as farmers prepare for harvest.

This is hopefully the month where I will finally get an MRI done. It's about time.

There is one more lake weekend left for the year at Thanksgiving. I love the coziness of the cottage. I love being surrounded by the changing season. I love the peacefulness that being at the lake offers.

It's going to be a good month. I just know it!