Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Scarlet Thread

Outside my window...rainy and dark. It's supposed to rain all week. I don't mind since I'm working, You don't have to shovel rain. I can't believe it's so mild at the end of November.
I am thinking...it was a good weekend. On Friday my cousin's son visited from the Yukon. I made way too much food for one person. Then on Saturday morning I spoke at the Ladies' meeting at church. I spoke on Christ as the Plumb Line, the Veil and the Mediator. That evening we attended our best man's 50th birthday. We're all getting older. Mine is 2-1/2 years away and I already know it'll be a crisis age for me. I'm planning a big party so I won't think about it. Sunday was church, and a lovely rainy day nap. That night I got some writing done.
I am hoping...to find a box of Christmas decorations I misplaced. I don't know how, since I put all the boxes together last year so I'd find them all easily. Or so I thought.
I am thankful for..the good feedback I received on Saturday morning. I was hesitant to present my Scarlet Thread material becase that's what I'm compiling for a book, but at least this way I got some idea of the impact it has on people. It seemed to be a blessing. Some even sent e-mails later on to tell me the same thing. That encouraged me to write more that night. I'll speak on Esther in two weeks at the Christmas brunch we have planned.
I am wearing...jeans and a hunter green top and pullover.
From the kitchen...lasagna and salad.
I am hearing...The Next Iron Chef.
I am reading...Life of Christ by James Stalker.
Around the house...half of my Christmas decorations are up. We just need the tree. I hope we can find one as nice as last year. It was a balsam fir and was perfectly symmetrical. My mom didn't come to the ladies' meeting or church, again. My Christmas letter draft is done.
One of my favourite things...getting my Christmas cards out early, which I have not even started yet. Some years I'm ahead of the game. This is not one of them.
Some plans for the week...work three nights. Buy gifts on Thursday for kids we'll see on the weekend. Clean and prep to leave for London. Kody will be left at home with his former owner. She misses him and it'll be nice for both of them. He still remembers her. We'll go to visit family on the weekend for our Finnish Christmas with extended family. Lots of food.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Move Over, Movember!

November 21, 2011.

Outside my window...dark and cold, but no snow yet. First time it dipped down below zero Celsius this fall. It's been a pleasant November so far.
I am thinking...we were at the SGF Assembly in Tottenham on the weekend. You wouldn't think a two day meeting to discuss church business would be interesting, but it was. It was encouraging to hear the reports from the churches, both their highs and lows so we'd know how to pray for them. We also accepted two new churches into the fellowship. One came with a seminary. I guess we just inherited a seminary! There was great preaching, fellowship and food. The church there was worried how they'd manage, since their building is so small, but they did a great job. I even managed to get through my five minutes of "public reading" without fainting or vomiting. I could feel my voice shaking, but no one seemed to notice. After that, I enjoyed the weekend more.
I am thankful for...good books. I really enjoyed The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Now I'm ready to see the movie.
From the kitchen...southwest chicken and salad.
I am wearing...my uniform, at work of course.
I am reading...City of the Dead by T.L. Higley. I have a new favourite author.
I am hoping...Movember will soon be over and men will be clean shaven again. I'm glad my husband didn't go for it. His would have grown in grey. I have nothing against fundraising for cancer, I just think this is a man's way of being a rebel for a month and claiming it's for a good cause. Kind of like the playoff beards. I hate that. They all look like lumberjacks.
I am hearing...a quiet unit. Only a dozen patients out of a possible 21.
Around the house...my youngest is writing an exam tomorrow for a potential summer job as a border services officer. It would be a good job, probably at the airport. If she gets it, we may need to buy a car. She can't study for this test, so they are probably questions that test her character or scenarios to see how she'd respond.
One of my favourite things...meeting new people. We hosted the guest preacher on Sunday. He is from South Africa.
Some plans for the week...work three nights. Help my husband choose new reading glasses. Entertain a relative from the Yukon on Friday night. Speak at our Ladies' Meeting on Saturday morning. Clean and shop. Attend a party for a friend's 50th birthday on Saturday night. Church on Sunday. Our eldest will be 21 on Saturday. She's like her father and doesn't want a party. We bought her a watch of her choice.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Moving Along on the Treadmill of Life

Nov. 14, 2011

Outside my window...dark, rainy, but not cold. A very mild November so far.
I am thinking... a co-worker of my husband died on Saturday of cancer of the pancreas. He was a believer, thankfully, so he is now face to face with His Saviour. Sad for his wife and daughter, though. My husband got to visit with him the day he died and he said he was ready to go. We've been thinking about growing old and dying lately. When we went out with our friends on Friday night, we talked about retirement, parents dying, and we compared aches and pains. If that doesn't show we're old, I don't know what does! And I haven't even hit 50 yet!
I am thankful for...hobbies. I like to have time to write and read, entertain and do crafts.
From the kitchen...jerk chicken legs, broccoli, spaghetti a la carbonara.
I am wearing...jeans, a pink t-shirt, a navy pullover. I bought two new sweaters and black dress pants for this weekend away.
I am reading..The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I wanted to read it before seeing the movie. I was hesitant to read it because of the setting (1960's southern U.S.) but I'm liking it. Oh, and I won a free book by Don Brown, one of my favourite authors, for commenting on a blog. So excited.
I am hoping...by some miracle that there won't be a municipal strike next year. On the news they're anticipating a long one, about six months. I can tell you the thought of it is already stressing me out. The last one, three years ago, lasted 33 days and it was all for nothing because the mayor caved and gave them what they wanted, when he was so close to breaking them. Since my husband is in management, he has to be locked in, to keep water coming out of the taps and fire hydrants. He had only short visits home. It was horrible. I don't know how military wives manage. I didn't cope well with the separation and being alone.
I am hearing...the train.
Around the house...my mom planned on coming to church for the luncheon, but then she woke up and said she slept poorly. I think it's just an excuse. The longer she's away, the harder she thinks it'll be to go back, even though no one would say anything that would upset her. My eldest visited with her boyfriend again on Sunday, and then she and I went shopping this morning. My youngest met the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and shook his hand. He was the guest speaker at U of T today.
One of my favourite things...my puppy. Yeah, he's a lot of work, but we love him.
Some plans for the week...work three nights. A relative is here from the Yukon (I can't believe I have a relative living in the Yukon!) and we're hoping to see him either Thursday night or next week. On Friday and Saturday, we'll be in lovely Tottenham for the SGF Assembly. Sunday, church.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Full Plate



November 7, 2011.

Outside my window...it can't get any darker. I can't see anything outside the window of the train. The time changed this past weekend. Is it summer yet? This morning though, it was so sunny and warm when I was walking the dog.
I am thinking...in other news: Michael Jackson's doctor was found guilty; there have been many shootings in Toronto lately; my mother-in-law left for an 18 day trip to South Africa; my husband is busy at work; my puppy submitted to his first real bath today, it only took 11 months; I need to review the update I need to present in two weeks at the SGF assembly; Christmas is coming; I haven't even begun to draft my Christmas letter and we didn't do a family photo shoot yet. Breathe.
I am thankful for...six free books on Kindle. Free is my favourite price.
From the kitchen...burgers on the bbq and Greek pasta salad. Not bad for November in Canada, eh?
I am wearing...jeans, a navy pullover and my windbreaker.
I am reading...In the Shadow of Colossus by T.L. Higley, set in the ancient Greek city of Rhodes. I think I found a new favourite author.
I am hoping...to find more time for writing. I have so many ideas, so many WIP's (works-in-progress), and so much work to do to improve my blog. There aren't enough hours in the day.
I am hearing...the train and quiet conversations.
Around the house...my daughter and her boyfriend came over for dinner again on Sunday. I'm starting to clue in that they do it so they won't have to cook. I don't mind. I made her a vegetarian meal of cucumbers vinaigrette, baked parmesan tomatoes, arugala salad with feta and watermelon, cheese biscuits, shrimp fetuccini alfredo, pineapple and strawberry punch and chocolate fudge cake. Also, in honour of Movember, I made paper handlebar moustaches on a stick and we posed for pictures.
My youngest daughter was on a retreat with her church in downtown Toronto.
We went to a housewarming party at my sister's house on Saturday night.
One of my favourite things...wearing a poppy. My favourite veteran died recently. I think of him.
Some plans for the week...work FOUR nights. I'm tired just thinking about it. Thursday night will be time and a half. Yay! Friday we're going out with the friends we had hoped to go out with last Friday. They suggested Mexican food, so we'll try it. Saturday morning my husband has a Men's breakfast. Sunday there is a luncheon after the morning service. Some missionaries we support will be there. I'm hoping my mom will come out to church after a two month absence.