Real Fellowship

For the last few weeks at our homegroup, each couple has taken the evening to share their story and then afterwards, we all pray for that couple. This week, Carl and I were up to share our story and I was pretty nervous about it. I wanted to jot down a few things at home before we left, but I felt frazzled as I was trying to make the rice to bring for supper, change the baby and mediate between Joel and Kezia. We decided to bring our photo albums along so that as we shared out story, we could show the other families a bit of our life in Winnipeg. We left 30 min. late and that only made me more anxious, but thankfully when we arrived, we saw that everyone else had come later too.

The meal was great but I wanted to linger at the table. Kevin and Rhonda set up the video camera (so that those that are absent can still hear our story) and Carl and I sat down. I started first and briefly told my history and my faith journey. I wanted to tell the group about the things that I was passionate about and things that I struggled with. Afterwards there were lots of questions and it was easier to answer them since I had already opened up. Then it was Carl’s turn to share. He hadn’t brought anything written down like I had, but he shared from the heart.

It’s pretty exhausting to reveal yourself to people that you have just met a few months ago. But I must say that there’s also a sense of relief because finally you can expose the real you. No more small talk, no assumptions about where you come from. Because when you share openly, it’s all out there and there’s nothing left to hide.

After we spoke, we sat down on the floor and the group gathered around to pray for us. We asked for prayer for next semester when Carl will be heavy into his studies. We asked for prayer for next year and what we should be doing. We also asked prayer for the ability to be real, to put down our masks, and not have to live up to anyone’s expectations.

I thought sharing was exhausting, but prayer can be even more emotionally draining. It’s an amazing place to be, where Christians are gathered to intercede and the Holy Spirit is speaking and ministering. You’re never guaranteed on the answers when you pray for guidance and that’s kind of scary. People prayed as they felt led and spoke insight into our lives. I have to admit that when I came to Fresno, I had my ideas of our future and life all nice and neat in a box. And I also had my impression of how God would speak into my life and how he would show me who I really am. As people prayed I could see my neatly wrapped ideas dissipating. Darn it! And Carl finally had a place to release the burden of peoples’ expectations and to be given the freedom to show emotion, even the not-so-nice emotions.

So we dried our tears and stood up, embraced by friends that we had entered into a new level with. We knew as we shared this evening, we had invited people into our lives and invited them to pray on our behalf. We also went home with a new understanding of how God relates to us and guides us.

Asha is 4 Months

Another month has past and our little Asha is growing into quite the baby. It's hard to believe how the time has flown. What has Asha been up to this month? Well.....

-She is 14 pounds and 25.5 inches, so Asha has been growing
-She can blow raspberries, so Asha is very entertaining
-She can pass toys from hand to hand & pull out her soother, so Asha is becoming more coordinated
-She is sturdy enough to play in the exesaucer, so Asha is happier
-She is eating more often in the night, so Asha's mom isn't sleeping as much :(
-She is rolling over on to her tummy, so Asha is becoming mobile
-She can push up her chest off the floor, so Asha is becoming stronger
-She is laughing more (especially for peek-a-boo), so Asha is a constant source of joy

She is still concerned and serious about the world, but every once in a while, she gives us a huge grin. Happy 4th Month Pookey!

Growing Up Fast

Next week Kezia will be three, but it seems that she's grown up way past her years in the last week.

A few days ago, Kezia inherited a Barbie House, clothes, furniture and of course her first Barbie from Clarissa, our neighbour. I had thought that Kezia was too young for Barbies, but when Clarissa came over and asked if she could give Kezia her things, how could I say no? In fact, I was touched that Clarissa thought of Kezia. And the next morning when Kezia woke up to see her new toys, she was THRILLED! She spent the entire day dressing and undressing her Barbie, and of course doing her hair. So we've now entered into the Barbie stage....wasn't it just last year that Kezia was still in diapers?

Yesterday and Cam and Shauna's, Megan painted Kezia's fingernails. Megan and Kezia are like two peas in a pod. Though there's 4 or 5 years difference, they both like to dress up and do pretty things with their hair (and nails of course). Megan likes to have a little "mini-me" to spend time with, while Joel and Madison are play fighting.



Barbies and nail polish; I didn't think we'd get to this before Kezia turned three. Well, we knew already when she was still really little, that she loved doing girlie things. She loves to dress up and to do her hair and now she'll enjoying getting her nails painted and playing with Barbies. Oh how they grow up so fast.

Manitoba Heartbreak

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days...

We had been invited by Cam and Shauna (who are fellow Canadians) to come over to their place to watch the Grey Cup. Funny, they weren't able to get the game on satellite but were able to get it on channel 32 with the rabbit ears. Anyways, we went wondering how the atmosphere would be....Cam is from Saskatchewan and Shauna is from Manitoba, like us. With every play there would be someone booing and someone else cheering. Can football fans handle that kind of tension?! We had a big turkey dinner (which was a nice, delicious surprise) on t.v tables while watching the game. And the time visiting before and after the game was really nice. They are a great family.

Megan, Madison, Joel, and Kezia, had a wonderful time playing and during breaks between quarters, entertained us with their singing and acting shows. It was pretty hilarious. But as the end of the game came closer, it was inevitable how the outcome would be.....

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days.

Black Friday - Part II

I have wanted one of these things for a while. I saw one on t.v. and asked Carl if I could have one for Christmas; but that was before I found out they are $200! Well, that's way too much. Until today.....Carl just came home a few minutes ago from shopping. Apparently the amazing, out-of-this-world deals are still out there. And I have the best husband in the world!

So I apologize if don't blog as much anymore, I have birthday invitations, and Christmas cards, and labels, and whatever I can think of to make with my NEW CRICUT!!

Black Friday

Yesterday was Black Friday, the day that all the stores have their pre-Christmas sales. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go because I'm a bit of a rookie when it comes to crazy shopping. I have to admit, I haven't even been shopping on Boxing Day. But as the day came closer, I decided to be brave and foolish and go for it. Now, some of the stores were opening at midnight but I had no desire to buy electronics, but there were a few that were opening at 4 a.m. Had it not been for Asha needing to eat around 5 a.m. maybe I would have gone then....

Anyways, I left for the mall at 9 a.m. My goal, get an IPhone for my brother in law and then see if there were any great deals. The Apple Store wasn't crowded at all! So I didn't need to wear my cleats and helmet (okay I really didn't, but can you imagine someone doing that!?) I got the IPhone, and then wandered around a bit. I found a store called Cathy Jeans, but it doesn't sell jeans, the store has shoes. How silly is that!

Then The Children's Place fairies started calling my name. So I entered into the maddness and maneuvered my way through the hordes of people. I must say, I was pretty impressed by my shopping skills. Maybe it's my natural instinct. For some people, they were clearly out of their realm; wandering around aimlessly, blocking the racks, counting their coins at the register. C'mon people, there are deals to be had, so get out of the way!

I got some birthday presents for my cousins, a sweater for Joel, dresses for Asha and Kezia, and a few birthday tidbits for Kezia (like something purple, and of course a skirt and tights). The whole picking-up-what-I-wanted took about 12 minutes, tops. But then there was the dreaded line. I waited for almost an hour and was hoping with each passing minute that Asha wasn't home screaming to eat. My arm started to cramp up at about minute 42, but I kept on, I was almost at the end. When I got the the register, the lady apologized for the wait and asked if I wanted to apply for their discount card. I was feeling a bit bad because really I shouldn't prolong the agony of those behind me in line, but I was going to save an additional 10%. Say, yes, say no, say yes...oh who am I kidding! I'm going to save the 10%! Well, I filled
out the form as fast as I could and handed it back to the lady. She asked me for my S.S. number and I told her that since I was a Canadian here for school, I didn't qualify for one. By now the people behind me were getting annoyed by the extended wait, and I was feeling a bit pressured. The girl just wanted to get this cleared up, but she couldn't figure out how to override the 10% discount. So she just gave it me anyways. Score! I walked out with 20 pounds of clothes for a total of 30% off.

Whew! I was feeling pretty good about myself, but after all that mental and physical exertion I was feeling pretty pooped! I didn't think I would have enough time to go to another store, so I decided to head home.

I was proud of myself that I managed to get in and get out with some pretty decent threads, but that I also didn't go bonkers and shop at every store that looked appealing. I think half the time when there are so many deals, you end up buying things that you don't need. Though I love to shop, I have limited money and limited space in our tiny apartment. But I had the experience, the thrill of the hunt for deals on Black Friday.

Thanksgiving-California Style

Today was American Thanksgiving. Carl ended up not having any classes this week, which was strange because for Canadian Thanksgiving, we have one day off to make it a long weekend and then it's back to work! We ended up not having turkey today but on Tuesday. I bought a Turkey on Monday and decided to cook it the next day. It wasn't my intention to have a big turkey dinner, but I did mashed potatoes, Carl came home with a box of stuffing and I had fresh beans in the fridge. It was a great meal. And afterwards I was glad that I finally did my own turkey; I got to have all the leftovers, the bones for soup and I didn't have to feel guilty about picking all the crispy parts all for myself!
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Today I made tostados and baked a pumpkin pie for supper. The tostados turned out great, but the pumpkin pie got mangled by the kids. I don't know what Joel and Kezia were thinking when I stepped out to switch the laundry, but when I came back there were gouge marks in the pie and the kids were hiding in the closet covered in pumpkin pie. The damage wasn't too bad and it didn't taste any worse.

There are many things that I'm thankful for like:
-being able to have a personal relationship with God
-my husband Carl (who is a solid rock, a comedian, and a great cook)
-my great kids (who keep me young and love me unconditionally)
-my friends (who I can pour out my heart to)
-health (no one has been really sick in months)
-enough food to eat (and way more than I need)
-a nice decent home to live in (I'm reminded of this on a daily basis as I see people with all their belongings in shopping cart)
-the opportunity to live in a place where I'm not from

My list of things could go on forever. And I shouldn't just be thinking of the things I'm thankful for on this particular day. It should be a constant mindset of thankfulness, each and every day.