Trip from Ottawa.

December in a nutshell.

Some snap shots of my December.

                                                                                                               

Grandma and Seraiah at the family Christmas.










                                            Last day of work before flying                   .                                                                                                                                                .                                               to Ottawa to get Emilee.

Makai Poffenroth at family christmas.

The PRBI girls came for a December  reunion/birthday celebration party. We all played soccer together and we had a wonderful time!
We ate alot, laughed and just relaxed together.

Jessica got engaged the weekend after!!
The finale to our wonderful girls weekend was meeting at Montana's with 'the boys'. Joel, Josh, Scott and Justin joined us. It was wonderful!






I flew to Ottawa to visit Emilee and the family that she was nannying for. Then Emilee and I packed up her stuff and drove back to Alberta in time for Christmas. We left the 21 of December and had to put in 40 hours of driving before the Christmas Eve service.

 

Death

Hello Dear Friends,

I have some sad news and some sobering thoughts that I need to release… this is my safe place. No tears, No questions, No interruptions… just processing.

This weekend was a wonderful weekend for me.

Although my town and coworkers are suffering greatly after losing important people in their lives.

My co-worker lost his mother (in her 80s) Friday evening. She has been in the hospital all summer suffering from circulation problems, they have amputated both legs hoping that would save her life. But she went home to be with her Lord Friday.

I can praise the Lord about this passing… because it is just that. She believed that Jesus saved her from her sins and she trusted her life to him, her creator, saviour, and friend.

Beaumont is suffering the loss of 3 teenagers, and 1 youth worker. The teenagers were killed instantly on Saturday at 3am. Drunk driving. need I say more? The High school has witnessed fatalities from drunk driving accidents in almost all of the graduating classes in the last 20 years. My grad class in 2004 was the 1st in 10 years not to loose a graduating student, but sadly we lost madeline the next year to drinking and driving.

The youth worker who is a few years older than me and attended the high school at the same time was not feeling well, went to the hospital, and died a few hours later on Sunday afternoon. Blood clot to the lungs.

It doesn't matter how old we are, how fit we are or how much fun we are having in life. Death comes when we don't expect it. All we can do is be ready. I ache for the families of those who have died this weekend in my sphere of influence… but after watching the news this evening, it's everywhere.

I believe that God wants what is the best for us, which is why he created us to be in perfect loving relationship with Him. We chose to doubt him. We chose to taste the fruit that he said not to… we doubted his goodness and truthfulness.

Now we have to live with the consequences of our doubt. Our relationship with him has been severed by our own doing. We need to choose to turn back to him. to believe that he LOVES us. That he wants the best for us (big picture) and that when we choose to live in relationship with him giving up our independence he is always with us, whether we are dead or alive physically. Our spirit will always be with Him and He with us.

And that is the reason why I can say HALLELUJAH and PRAISE THE LORD. even though I hurt for the families.

Android Revolution

I couldn't hold out any-longer.  My blackberry has served me well but I am tired of it freezing and not sending or receiving messaged until 2 days later. In our fast paced world this leaves me in the dust a lot of the time. But I am now officially up to speed! 

Now I won't need a laptop… I hope. If I can do Email, Skype, Facebook and google from my phone the only reason why I will need a computer is to update this blog… I'm way faster at typing on a keyboard than I am on the touch screen.  

So friends, Text me, Skype me, Facebook me, Call me… I guess my cell phone can do phone calls too! 

Life Choices

OH HOW HE LOVES US. 

As I listen to this song I think about my life choices… the good, the bad, the ugly and the "what was I thinking…" choices. I have made some incredibly stupid choices, I have also made some good decisions. The best decisions have been to repent from the incredibly stupid life choices. 

The beauty of a life with God is that we can see His love and His grace in the bad decisions and well as the good decisions. His love speaks louder than any decision I could make. Since I am His creation and He knows me so intimately none of my decisions are a surprise to Him. He may be disappointed with the choices I have made but that doesn't change the way He loves me. 

In the past few months I have witnessed/ heard about some incredible life choices that my friends are making. Some of those choices swell me with pride and joy. Yet others bring me to tears and make me ache for the consequences and pain that follow those decisions. None of those decisions change the way I love those friends. I will always love those friends no matter what life decisions they make. But, something does change, those life decisions either draw the friendship closer or cause distance. Once the bad life decision is made it's like there is a fork in the road, you choose one direction and your friend chooses another. There is the physical distance between the roads but also the emotional, spiritual and relational distance that comes from being un-able to relate. 

I believe that is the way it is with God. We can walk close to Him and be in relationship with Him, but when we choose a different direction we loose the contact with Him. We cause the distance. He didn't leave. He is there, walking parallel to us but on a different road. His arms are stretched out to us and offer us a way back to Him. All we have to do is admit we were wrong, accept His love and grace and run into His arms. He is always loving us and waiting on us. 

As I think about relationships that have changed over the years, the friendships that have grown distant have mostly been because of a physical distance. But other relationships have been because of life decisions and losing the ability to relate. Different Schools, Dating, Moving, Work, Marriage, and Children whether they are good choices or not isn't for me to decide but they have been the cause of losing that ability to relate. 

The longer we live the more life decisions we make whether good or bad (because we are not perfect) those decisions shape our lives and will either draw us towards the Lord or away from Him. I challenge you to think about that in your own lives. Can you see how decisions have pulled you away from the Lord and friends and how other decisions have been beneficial to those relationships. 

OH HOW HE LOVES US. 

HE IS JEALOUS FOR ME

HIS LOVE IS LIKE A HURRICANE 

I AM A TREE

BENDING BENEATH THE WEIGHT

OF HIS WIND AND MERCY

WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN 

I AM UNAWARE

 OF THESE AFFLICTIONS 

ECLIPSED BY GLORY

AND I REALISE 

JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL 

YOU ARE AND HOW GREAT 

YOUR AFFECTIONS ARE FOR ME 

OH HOW HE LOVES US OH

OH HOW HE LOVES US

HOW HE LOVES US OH

WE ARE HIS PORTION 

AND HE IS OUR PRIZE

DRAWN TO REDEMPTION 

BY THE GRACE IS HIS EYES

IF GRACE IS AN OCEAN 

WE'RE ALL SINKING

AND HEAVEN MEETS EARTH 

LIKE A UNFORSEEN KISS 

AND MY HEART TURNS VIOLENTLY

 INSIDE OF MY CHEST

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO MAINTAIN

 THESE REGRETS WHEN 

I THINK ABOUT THE WAY… 

HE LOVES US! 

WOO HOO!!!!!!! 

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is coming up, I am so excited for this holiday. I think it is one of my favourites. We are having lots of family over, lots of food and I expect lots of laughing!

I am thankful that John and Shirley Bennett are coming from chicago
I am thankful that Emilee is coming from Ottawa
I am thankful that Luc and Rebecca are coming from Calgary
I am thankful that Mom and Dad are coming from Ft. Mcmurray
I am thankful that Patti and James are coming from Rimbey
I am thankful that it will be a full house for the weekend! … I might need to escape saturday for a bit of solitude though… :)

I have so many things to be thankful for. The Lord answered my prayers and has extended my job until christmas. I will be pruning the field trees at the nursery until then, Which means I don't have to get another job before my trip.

That is another answer to prayer. I have been wanting to return to Hawaii. Well, God is sending me again. I am going back as a volunteer for 3 months and my sister (another answered prayer) is applying to come along. Her agreement and feeling lead to go to Hawaii was my confirmation. I will be mission building from january 16- april 16. If you want to come visit… I'd love to see any of you there!

Another answer to prayer is that my Jeep has been stalling and it went to the mechanic today (thanks to mom and dad's good timing) and it's just spark plugs and crossed wires… The poor jeep is getting a little old. it's about time some things were replaced.

I am also thankful for fall. I love this weather. I love scarves, mitts, toques and the fallen leaves. I am so thankful for my family and my friends… who live all over the Canada and the world. I miss you all!

I am thankful for the ladies at work and the relationships I am building with them, it will be sad not to see them for most of the winter… but spring will be a sweet sweet reunion!

I am so very thankful for the blood of Jesus that restores my relationship with him. I am so thankful that He loved me so much that he painfully spilt his blood to save me from my own self and sin. I am thankful that he shows him love to me, through relationships, orchestrated meetings and timing, sunsets, northern lights, blue herons landing on the creek behind the green house, moose wandering through a field, Geese collecting and flying south. I am so Thankful that he cares and knows me enough to give me those gifts!

I am thankful!!

No Worries

I had an awesome opportunity to go and drive a combine at a farm by Wainwright. It was a sweet chance to taste the life of a farmer. Paul and Laura Ford opened their house and fields to me. I wasn't at their house long but I know that I am made for country life and it was refreshing to my spirit to be out of the city. I drove a quad, combine, the grain truck, had a nap under the old pine trees… and I just had to climb one of them… It was a wonderful day! 

this is the canola that I harvested from the field! 

Live with no worries… God is the master of all! watch this video and think about the struggles and challenges that you have and how God is being glorified through them! 

Makai Roan Poff.

I would like to introduce you to my new cousin/nephew.  Meet Makai Roan Poffenroth. 

My dear cousin Anni gave birth september 14th to a beautiful strong and hairy young man. Anni and I have been best buds since we were 4, Makai is more than a cousin… He is more like a nephew. 

God is so sweet. Anni was due last Tuesday so I, and many others have been anxiously anticipating the arrival of this young man. The Lord arranged it amazingly. My day off was Wednesday, if Makai hadn't have come, labor would have been induced wednesday at 11 am. which means no baby until wednesday evening. But the Lord decided that it was important for me to be there, so Makai came at 4:00 wednesday morning. I was able to spend almost the whole day snuggling with him and chatting with Anni. What an incredible blessing. 

Makai is Hawaiian for Matthew, Gift from God. He is that! He is a blessing and a reminder of God's faithfulness, love and grace. God is so good to us. I can't wait to hug and kiss this little guy again. He is beautiful, and I am excited to watch him grow up and laugh with him, spoil him, challenge him and hopefully one day climb trees with him. :) 

It is amazing how this baby fits into my Hawaii life. Anni skyped me my first week in Hawaii to tell me that she was pregnant, we had many conversations about hawaii since I have returned and now that I'm thinking of going back to hawaii, for him to have a hawaiian name seems to fit so perfectly. (i know it is not all about me though… Anni has her own reasons why she chose the name). 

Craving Grace

http://lisavelthouse.com/books/craving-grace/

I have read this book in 2 weeks. (that's quick for me, I am not a fast reader)

It was easy reading. Interesting and has drawn me to crave the sweetness of God's grace more and more.

I can relate to Lisa's story and it is funny how she has put into words much of what I've learned the last 2 years.

The quote from her book that sums up the lesson I've learned. page 197.

"I finally accepted that no act of goodness- refusing the last half of a torte, for instance (she was on a sugar fast)- could make my sinfulness less offensive, less entire. I was accepting the gospel message that says God can love me fully, even when I'm in the throes of violating my word to him. I was admitting to myself that my level of deservingness would never climb above an even zero.


"If the mercy is true," wrote Martin Luther, "you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong." For a time I took my extra good works completely off the table, and I let my faith stand only on the merit of God's love and sacrifice. This allowed me to define myself not as someone impressively faithful but as someone rescued. It was humbling, and it was heaven. 


This is the scandal of Grace: the jolt that comes afterward is not from the heaviness of remorse but from a new, tender lightness. I was learning how to be less and infinitely lower than I had always expected and thought I was. I was beginning to see what it means to be drawn to God - not committed out of mere duty, not faithful simply because it might cajole him into favour, but attracted to him and won over by the reckless extent of his love. " page 197,198. 

She has put into words the way I have felt since my Mission Building experience in Hawaii. God got ahold of me anew there. He renewed a new life in me. Restored me from the destructive lifestyle of "being a good little christian girl" with lots of aches and sins and secrets. I am free to be not good all the time. I am free to have bad days. I am free to be me… sinful. And he still loves me. Oh how He loves me.

I have tasted his sweetness. I will give you an example. Today was my day off, last night I was feeling very lonely and I was worried about spending my day off all alone. I contacted a few people this morning but they were busy so as I planned my day ( full so I wouldn't have time to think about my loneliness) I receive a text from a friend, Courtney. She asks if I still wanted to do something on my day off. She is willing to come out to Millet with me to look at some tree work. We spend the day driving in the convertible Jeep, swinging, singing, chatting, had ice cream. She trimmed my hair, and blessed my spirit.
That is an example of God's sweetness. His grace for me. I don't deserve to have friends like that who come over at the precise moments. But it's his gift to me for today. I am so thankful and blessed to know and taste his sweetness.

Shoes and Sofas

I have been pondering something this week and I want to know if anyone can give me some answers.

 I have often seen a lonely shoe laying on it's side in the middle of the street. … where does it come from? where is the foot that it belongs to and the other half to the pair? I feel confused and a little sad when I see this. Was it a pedestrian that ran fast across the street and lost their shoe? Was it a pedestrian that was hit by a car? Was it a sibling rivalry that went bad in the backseat of a minivan and the older brother tossed the younger's shoe? How does this happen?

This week on my drive to work through the beautiful countryside and back roads I came across a blue sofa in the ditch. Did a homeowner drive out from the city to a 'unused' back road to rid themselves of this sofa rather than taking it to the dump? Did it fall off of a truck as someone was moving and they have lost their sofa forever? Was this sofa stolen by delinquents as a prank and just left there for the cows to enjoy?

There are sometimes in my life when I feel like these objects. lost, lonely, tossed aside and forgotten about. But God is so good and in those moments I feel his presence the most. There is a quote I heard a few weeks ago… okay, maybe a month… "let your loneliness become solitude and solitude prayer". when we get over the fact that we FEEL lonely we can look the beauty of it. We can find ways to celebrate the solitude and find the rich blessing that is in the quiet.

Our world is so full of noise. It is tough to choose the quiet, the TV, ipod, radio and phone is always so available to us. We can so easily drown out our own thoughts and the voice of God that is so needed in the stillness. Living alone has had it's challenges, coming home to an empty house, deciding whether to cut the grass or make supper (because there isn't enough time or energy to do both), listening to the clock tick away the evening… because I'm too cool to go to sleep at 7:00. Walking, reading, crocheting and journaling have become a bigger part of my life than I thought they would.

TV is a temptation and a distraction. If I sit down to eat supper in front of the TV (for the companionship) before I realize it it's 9 o clock and I didn't do anything. I am not saying that TV is bad, but for me it's a time sucker. I enjoy TV shows but I don't have self control to get up and turn it off and get outside. luckily I'm a crocheter so I do get lots of projects done while I sit in front of the tube.

Endless Ocean.

By Jonathan Helser

God's love is endless!!

Amen. 

Welcome August!

The days are getting shorter, the nights a little cooler, the raspberries are ripening and my garden is producing. Welcome August!



I have had peas, apples, rhubarb, raspberries and zucchini from my yard. I am really excited for the carrots, beets and maybe even cucumbers if we get a warm 6 weeks.

















I have had so many months of summer… being in hawaii for 3 months was wonderful but this Canadian girl is craving the fall. I want to wear my sweaters, mitts, scarves and touques. I want to see my breath and have fires in the back yard in the evening… now it's just too hot to start a fire. I am excited for pumpkins, the crunching leaves under my feet and a brisk walk around the lake. I'm also excited for snow… i want to go cross country skiing again! :) Maybe i'm crazy… maybe i'm just Canadian.

I went to visit the horses today. Meet Bell and Tess. Tess is the Bay and Bella is the chestnut. They are good friends of mine. I am at a loss as far as 'Horse Training' but i just enjoy spending time with them and wandering around in their little piece of heaven out there. I hope they enjoy spending time with me as much as I like spending time with them.

Bella. 

Tess (she has spunk)

And moi. Again, out in a wheat field…. what can i say?? I just like it. 

Deer, Wolves, Hot springs and Golf

We went to Radium as a family this long weekend. Luc, Rebecca, Emilee, Mom, Dad, Grandma and I. It was a long drive but completely worth it! I absolutely love the mountains, I am always in awe of the beauty and creativity I see in God whenever I am there. The beauty of the wild flowers, the ruggedness of the rocky mountains, and the resilience of nature.

On our drive we passed a stretch that was 'destroyed' by forest fires close to 10 years ago. It is incredible to see how the new growth is coming up and animals are moving back into that area. this particular area is being repopulated by wolves (who aren't aware of the highway I'm guessing) so there were signs out to watch out for wolves on the road. So, as I stood on the side of the highway taking this photo and listening for car horns, my dad sat protectively inside the truck watching for wolves.

My highlight of the whole trip was playing golf (surprised??) saturday afternoon. I have only played one game of golf and that was in high school for Phys Ed class in the pouring rain, I viewed it as more of a walk with some weird hockey-ness to it.


But this time I actually enjoyed the game of golf, I played with Mom and Dad; Emilee, Luc and Rebecca played ahead of us. Dad did some sweet shots, one of his shots skipped twice across the little pond and ended up half way up the hill to the green. Mom skipped her ball off the water once and landed around the same spot. And mine went right into the middle of the pond. But luckily we weren't keeping score (maybe that's why i enjoyed it… i didn't know how bad i was doing) My next attempt at clearing the pond worked, I just put my head down and in my anger I hit that ball so hard…. it went over the water and up the hill !!! Success!


On the 6th hole while mom and I had a bit of a bathroom break; Luc, Rebecca and Emilee tee'd off… Luc hit the side of the washroom (with mom inside). At the same hole, Dad and I were standing at the tee box and we hear 3 distinct FORE!!!!!!'s.  So I whipped around, eyes up and hands by my head expecting to see a little while bullet shooting at me. I didn't… see anything. The golfer came over later and Dad helped him look for his ball, it landed 5 feet behind where I was standing on a little piece of cement at the backside of the tee box. CRAZY!!!

1 more close call was on the last hole, I think we were getting impatient so Mom and I stayed close behind Luc, Rebecca and Emilee; Dad needed to stay a bit further behind because he can send that ball so far. at one point mom was telling dad to shoot, dad hesitated, and then decided that it was an okay thing to do. Emilee and Rebecca… and the golf cart (maybe another reason why i liked this game) were by the sand pit. Dad hit the ball and it headed straight toward my sister and sister-in-law. Mom, Dad and I all shout FORE!!!!, and Emilee sees the ball just in time to take a step back and allow the ball to land inside the sandpit just feet from where she was standing. Rebecca wanted to show dad that she thought it was a bad move, so rebecca stepped on dad's ball and buried it in the sandpit. We all survived the 9 holes and we all had a good time despite the close calls.

The beauty of the mountains this weekend was just incredible. We couldn't have asked for nicer weather or a more comfortable stay. We ate good food, laughed, prayed, golfed, swam and soaked in the hot springs. We had Grandma's brother and sister-in-law over for tea and pie one night and we walked alot! 

I think it was a great August long weekend. ( not so long because i need to work holiday monday…)

Love-Wide and Heaven-High

My world was little and cozy-tight,

Snug and smug in it's dim half-light;

And, though it was too small inside

For me to stretch my arms out wide

Or let me stand up straight and tall,

This annoyed me not at all.

I crouched in my small world each day, 

Content to doze the hours away - 

Till a stray sunbeam, quite lost, I'm sure,

Found it's way through a crack in my door.

A wandering thought it might have been, 

But it shone with a brightness I'd never seen, 

And it lighted my world's dimlit way

And it tempted me forth to a sunbright day.

I opened the door and stepped outside

Into a new world, high and wide!

With outstretched arms to embrace it all, 

I felt my soul stand straight and tall,

And I knew that I could never go back

To that little world with it's pitiful lack

Of all that made life glow and shine, 

Now that this wider world was mine.

So I closed the door and I turned the key

On that little world and that little me, 

And I raised my face to the open sky

In a world love-wide and heaven-high!

~Helen Lowrie Marshall

Take My Hand

Are you troubled, burdened, blue? 

Take my hand. 

I've been troubled, burdened, too,

I understand.

Where you've fallen, once I fell - 

Oh, I know these pitfalls well. 

Let me help the clouds dispel - 

Take my hand. 

Others helped when I was weak,

Took my hand,

Helped me face towards the peak,

Helped me stand.

What they did, now let me do - 

Pass that kindness on to you.

Some day you'll help others, too.

Take my hand. 

~Helen Lowrie Marshall

Summer Weekend.

Monday Morning storm

This photo is how I was woken up Monday morning. Monday was my day off, I was hoping to sleep in at least until 7. The storm hit at 5:55 am.

The thunder boomed until 8 when I finally gave up on trying to sleep and got up.

Then this wonderful day started! It was beautiful, warm, sunny and full of laughs, and good chats.

I went to Gull Lake with Anni, Kara, Isabelle and Amaia. We had a blast! Kara, Anni and I had a wonderful chat, we ate lunch in the sun, played in the park... but nothing was more fun that the mud! especially for Amaia. She loved that mud, more than the park, more than the lake, I'm sure she liked that more than anything.

Anni and I blew up a rubber dingy after Kara and the girls left. Her and I floated for a couple hours just chatting and enjoying the sunshine. Anni went for a swim and I tried to keep up with her paddling the boat... She is a good swimmer! Anni and I also chased a run-away floaty for a little girl. The wind took the floaty so quick... and we almost lost it again when we were giving it back to her. GO Anni Go!... she's a quick thinker.

Isabelle and Amaia remind me of Emilee and I. We are very different as are these two beautiful little girls. It's so neat to see the sisterhood from the outside/Adult side. 

PRAISE

Praise the LORD!!! My friend Alissa, the one diagnosed with cancer, Her report has changed. It is now said to be stage 3 cancer which means it has not spread! Thank you Lord! We keep praying and believing that God is in control and has a plan, and that He can heal her if its in the story of Alissa's life. He is the author and perfecter of our lives.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  



Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally Brothers (and Sisters), Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praise worthy - think about such things. 
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice. 


And the God of peace will be with you. 


-The Apostle Paul 
Philippians 4:4-9

Garden July 5!

My Dahlia is starting to bloom

My front shade garden.

mmm Raspberries.

Engelmen Ivy 

Millcreek Nurseries

New Job, Sales staff at Millcreek Nurseries. I love it! I get to sell people trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials. I get to answer their questions about the trees and shrubs in their yard. I get to drive quads and a 4 wheeled people mover - to take customers out into the fields to look at trees. Very fun!

more to come...

Good Bye Alberta Arborists

Here are some sneak peaks into my life at Alberta Arborists. I was the girl in charge of the combo crew and Drew was my partner in crime... Tree Crime.                         

                                                                                   

We did small pruning jobs, removals and stumps, the odd planting jobs and many customer complaint cases. Meet my dear friend Eddy, He would greet with his same expression every morning and was never absent or late. He loved being at work and I loved seeing him in his element every day. 

Eddy and I became good friends. 

I love Oak trees, Drew and I got to climb and prune this one. We had a good time and the client was very friendly. 

If you have a stump in your yard... maybe I made it into a stump... this is what you can do with it... 

Drew and I saved a baby bird from trees we were cutting down. The last time we saved it, it was hiding among our branches and stump grinder on the trailer. The bird almost got a free trip to the city dump. hopefully the baby bird's luck got a little better after we left.  

Drew went away for a week to BC. so, I got to work with Andrew! We worked some rainy days and had some good laughs, awesome conversations and made a movie. 

The rain clouds the week that it rained every day. 

I have enjoyed working for Alberta Arborists. The guys were great, The work was good, The trucks were fun to drive and I was always challenged (in a good way). But I am ready to move on, ready to challenge my brain rather than my muscles. I am looking forward to the change of pace, hours, and testosterone levels. It will be good to work with women for a change... hopefully there isn't too much drama! :)

God is moving me on and I am thankful, sad to go but excited to arrive. I can't wait to see what happens while I am an employee of Millcreek Nurseries.

Plan B

 (I wrote this while my internet was down June 28.) 

Sometimes our lives take an unexpected swerve to the right or the left. Well, Two friends of mine are experiencing this to the extreme. Alissa and Carey. They are in their early 20’s, they have been married for just over a year and have just recently came back from Africa where they were serving with a missions organization for 3 months (ish). They have been preparing with work out at a bible camp for the summer. Alissa is one of the program directors and Carey was going to work on maintaining the camp facilities. On Monday June 20 their lives changed forever. Alissa was diagnosed with breast cancer. Tonight June 28 they found out that it is stage 4. They believe it has spread to her hip.

Why, How, When, and WHAT THE HECK???

Processing this has been difficult for me, Sometimes I want to Praise and Rejoice because God is good because He holds us and keeps us from deviating from His plan, and in these challenges and aches we see HIM so clearly. Other times I am just in shock and am so saddened by the news and what it means for their lives. But I believe with everything in me that my God is bigger than CANCER. I believe that he can zap those cancer cells to smitherines. The question is will He?

I know that he wants the best for Carey and Alissa, that He loves them and is working everything out for their best. But his has a bigger plan than their comfort; it is to bring HIM GLORY. We can’t see the whole tapestry that he is weaving, we can’t see how this will change lives… not only their lives but everyone they interact with through the connection and commonality of cancer. We can’t see their faith growing… I think I can hear it though, you just need to talk to them for a few minutes and you can hear their hope, faith and peace amongst all the pain, saddeness, shock and suffering. 

My prayers are with them, their families and close friends. My prayers go out to the camp that Alissa was supposed to program direct for the summer, that they would find the right person to take over her position. My prayers are with the doctors as they plan her treatment and schedule  and prepare the chemo. My prayers are with their friends who are separated by distance and are so hurt and shocked. But my 1^st prayer through this whole week of cancer talk is that God is glorified and that HIS beautiful scheme of things is seen eventually. I do not want to be the thread that is fighting being put and twisted into place. I pray and I ask and I express my desires to the Lord but I know that His idea of beautiful and good don’t always line up with what I am dreaming of.

God has also changed my life in the last week. This time last week I handed out resumes to find out what kind of jobs were out there and if I would be interested in any. Well, Monday I start a new job… So quick! God moves swiftly. I dropped of a resume at Millcreek nurseries on Thursday, got a call back the same day, went in for an interview Saturday and Monday I was hired. It is perfect timing for me. God goes ahead of us. He knows the things that we will walk into (both big and small) and the solutions that he has hiding in wait for us. 

Interviewing

The small things in life are so sweet. Vanilla Macadamia Kona Coffee for breakfast. Highland dancing and the Caber Toss at the Scottish Society. Fresh cut grass. Perogies, bacon, zucchini and avocado for supper (sadly, no sour-cream).

I have been looking for a new job for a few weeks now, this last week I dropped off 3 resumes at various greenhouses and nurseries close to home. Before I even arrived home, I got a phone call from Millcreek Nurseries wanting to set up an interview. Saturday morning I went to the nursery at 9 for the interview. It went very well.  If I am offered it on Monday,I am excited to take the position. There is a substantial pay cut, but there is more room for advancement in years to come within the nursery. I am also able to spend more time talking to people and it will challenge my brain and education. If I choose to start my own company the experience of working here will also be invaluable.

My mom also found an opportunity with the city of Lacombe. so... maybe I will be moving. Who Knows. Only God knows my future, so please pray with me as i decide when and where to go.

Thankyou!

God's hand at work.

My friend Chelsea from high school was baptized this sunday! Her 'mentor' and friend Carolyn came up for the baptism and was/is a huge spiritual support to chelsea. It is amazing to see friends come to the Lord in HIS perfect timing. 

She's taking the plunge. Professing her faith and showing to her family and friends that this is her life. Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus for listening to the prayers and for using young high school girls and youth group to plant a seed in her life. You, Lord planted, You watered, You grew the seed into a mature, life giving Christian life! 

We have had crazy weather in the Edmonton area this last week. I have wanted to capture some of the cloud formations of camera and finally took the opportunity even though it is 10 o clock at night and it's my bed time. ;) for the last week these sights have been very common. Storm cells blowing in, POURING rain and sometimes lingering, but mostly going on south and making way for the next one. 

I am so sick of the rain and the dark clouds. I want Alberta Sunshine and Hot Summer days!!!! 

But, I think God has been showing me that He knows what is best and that there is beauty and purpose in the things that He does. Especially when they are not in MY plans. He has a reason and I'm learning to trust Him and I'm trying to make a habit of finding out what those reasons are and where the beauty is in the different situations. 

Chao.