Question of the day...

Hey everyone, so I have a question for you all.  (seriously, it's for ALL of you, so I'd love feedback!)

For those of you who have private blogs:
What were contributing factors to helping you decide to go private?  Ultimately, what made you make that decision?  Has it been a good decision?  Has going private accomplished it's purpose?

For those of you who have non-private blogs:
Why have you not gone private?  Why do you keep your blog open to the world, and are you comfortable with anyone reading anything?  Do you ever think about going private?

Obviously I am ok with everyone reading everything because I've chosen to have non-private blogs for the last...almost four years.  But I've been noticing lately that about half my friends have private blogs and the other half have non-private blogs and I've gotten curious.  Is it just the kid-factor (those with kids choose to go private)?  Or is there more to it?  Obviously it's more for some of you because a few of my "private" friends don't have kids... : )  Do share.  I'm intrigued. 

If anyone would be more comfortable sharing their reasons privately, either send me a facebook message or shoot me an email.  I'm really interested in hearing people's thoughts!

Lennox's Birthday!

It's Lennox's birthday today!  He's four!  Our puppy is all grown up.  We can't wait to see him again...

These are some pictures from our little "birthday celebration" last year.  I can't believe that was only a year ago...feels like forever.  For the whole story, click HERE.

A Summer Read...

When I was young, probably starting around the time I started reading, my summers would always be filled with reading clubs.  Either through our local library, or through a Christian Book distributor (whoever had the better prizes!), I would sign up and fill out page after page of books that I'd read throughout summer vacation.  I would read while we were in the car on vacation.  I would read before going to bed.  I would read to and from trips to town in our car.  I would read in the hammock.  I would spend entire days just reading!

I have such fond memories of checking out book after book (usually 10 or 15 at a time!) from our library and poring over them, just absorbing the stories.  As I got older, my summers ceased to involve reading clubs.  I was a bit sad when I reached their age limits.  I've always continued to read, though.

Often in my summers, I like to pick out a book from my growing up years and re-read it while on vacation.  There is something so simple and wonderful about going outside with a good book and spending hours just swaying in a hammock and experiencing someone else's story for a while.  I'm not sure what my summer read will be this year.  A couple years ago (four summers ago) I re-read Charlotte's Web while at Nathan's grandma's cottage out in Ontario. Whatever I choose this year, I have a feeling that it'll be a wonderfully relaxing summer...

What is your favorite childhood chapter book?  Any suggestions for my summer reading list?

Passes quickly

Thank goodness for sickness that passes quickly.  I feel much better today!  Funny, I had a similar thought about Bethany muffins though.  Hm.  Maybe that's a sign that I should make some muffins one of these days?

So while I'm speaking of things passing quickly, and as I'm in need of some blog updating, I suppose I'll share with you things that pass quickly.  Take note and enjoy the moment:

-  childhood - where did that go?  While I was young, I just wanted to be in my mid-20's and now I'm here.  And time has only sped up.  I fear I'll be wishing for these days back before I know it!

-  school years - have you ever noticed that, especially when you're in post-secondary education, the semesters just seem to FLY by?  We're nearing the end of our second semester down here...almost halfway done!  I keep wishing that it was over already so that we could get on with our "real" lives, but then I keep reminding myself that "real" life comes with mortgage payments and property taxes and permanency.  And right now our entire future is open before us!  What an exciting time (even though it sometimes just feels ungrounded)!

-  pay cheques - these pass pretty quickly, unfortunately. 

-  cars on a freeway - these pass VERY quickly, so if you see a nice one, drool quickly because it'll soon be gone

-  baby's first year - I hear this passes quickly.  About a year ago many of my friends had babies all at once and they're all nearing their first birthdays now.  I can't speak for their mothers, but wow their first year passed quickly for me!

-  time when you're having fun - ever notice that when you're bored time just seems to crawl, but when you just wish time would stand still for a while, it seems to jump forward a couple hours at a time?  Yup.  Enjoy those fun moments in life!

That's all I've got.  Until next time, take note of the things that pass quickly and enjoy them while you can!

My first thought...

My first thought when I woke up this morning was,

"It's Tuesday!  Muffin morning!"

Not since Bethany, Niki.  It's been almost 5 years since you've experienced a Bethany muffing morning...

My next thought was,  
 "Where's the bucket?" 
That's right, it's a sick day in bed for me.  Must be something going around...

Quote of the Day...

I've found that I have alot of time to do homework these days (just what I needed!  Now I just need motivation...).  Anyway, I have been reading the book Dissident Discipleship by David Augsburger and came across a quote that I just thought was SO true, but didn't realize anyone actually had the guts to write it down and publish it.  But I'm sure it's true for all of us!

"We might define true community as that place where the person 

you least want to live with always lives." - Parker Palmer

Haha.  Makes me laugh every time I read it.  The best humour is humourous because it is true.  And in my case, it is humourous because I live in "true community" right now. 

Life...

Life these days...
-  has been warm!  Yesterday and today have been up to 25 degrees and sunny.  It feels SO good.  It sounds like you up north are also having continued beautiful weather so I won't consider this bragging, only rejoicing in the en of winter!  It is perfect barbecuing weather...
-  has been laden with homework!  Yeah, not much new there.  My parents were out for a 5 day visit earlier this month and this past weekend was a Young Leaders Conference thing here at the school so, while there is starting to be alot of homework due, especially for Nathan, he has had less than normal amounts of time to work on it.  BUT, this week is reading week so he's being quite productive.  I'm so proud of him!  He even goes so far as to sit inside on these beautiful days, just so he'll be more productive.
-  has been fun.  Nathan and I have been having alot of fun together.  You know those times when there is just lots of laughter and joking around and everything just seems to be perfect?  It's one of those times right now and we're enjoying it!
-  has been routine.  Class, work, homework...there hasn't been much variation from one day to the next, and I'm quite alright with that.  But some days it just makes me want to go out and do something different!  Perhaps Nathan and I are almost due for another relaxing morning spent at Starbucks together...

Strawberry Patch

Take a look at what I'm about to eat:

Does that not look AMAZING???

It has been decided...the next time we buy a house, I WILL have a strawberry patch.  And it will cost less than $3/lb to eat to my heart's content!

Weekend...

Another weekend is coming and it's a big one around here.

Nathan has a Young Leaders Conference that he is a part of this weekend.  Actually, it starts tonight (Thursday) and goes until Saturday night.  It will be fun for him, because quite a few people from his (our) Bethany days will be here for that.  We are actually hosting two of our Bethany friends in our apartment (it'll be TIGHT!).  The days will be long for them: 8:30am - 9:00pm.  I'm just glad I don't have to worry about meals or anything.  Pretty much, I just have all that time to myself!

Well...not quite all that time will be free time for me.  On Saturday I have part 2 of my Counseling Couples course.  From 9am-5pm I will be sitting in class, learning how to try to get couples to communicate and deal with conflict.  I'm really quite excited for this class to be over.  It has turned out to be much more focused on the professional counseling side of it and less relevant for someone who may hope to do some lay counseling one day as, perhaps, a pastor's wife.  Seeing as the course is part of their counseling program here at the school, though, it really does make sense.

Once all of that is over and our house is back to just the two of us, I imagine we'll have a pretty quiet Sunday.  We'll probably watch some Nascar (Nathan will watch Nascar and I'll sleep!) and just hang out together.  That just never gets old...

Hope you all have a good weekend!  Sorry about the lack of blogging lately.  It just feels like there's not much to say right now.  Routine, routine, routine.  There's only so much I can talk about classes and homework.  But life always picks up sooner or later, or at least the blog inspiration does, so keep coming back!   

I miss this guy alot...

As the weather is getting nicer here, and in Canada too from what I hear, I can't help but think how wonderful it would be to have Lennox around to take for walks or just to play with outside.

He always loved to play outside, especially in spring, when there were so many new smells and things to explore.  He always got soaking wet on our walks, but it was worth it to have him around.

He's such a goof.  A well-behaved, sweet, cuddly goof.  He was always ready to play.  At the mere mention of the word "walk" his eyes would light up and he would begin his warm-up pacing around the kitchen island.

What a sweetie.  We sure do miss him.  But he is being taken such good care of in Canada.  And we'll see him soon....three months and we'll see this face in real life!  Can't wait!

Blossom Trail

Where we are attending school, we are in the middle of orchard/vineyard country.  It is absolutely beautiful, especially this time of year.  All the blossoms are out!  They actually have this "blossom trail" marked out on local highways so you can have a good tour of a variety of trees and blossoms.  To drive around the whole thing it probably takes about an hour to an hour and a half.  We took a drive through part of blossom trail while my parents were out and boy was it beautiful.  Here are some pictures we took so you can all enjoy it too as most of you wait out the rest of winter up in Canada...though from the looks of it, we chose a poor winter to be away.  The weather up north this year has been looking exceptionally mild.  Good for you guys :D

 

 

Out of the silence...

It's been three days since I posted.  And it'll likely be three days more before I post anything of any substance.  My parents are out visiting this week and I don't have the time that I usually have to write.  (I'll take parental visits over blogging any day! - sorry to all of you who suffer in silence)  So I hope you all have a good week and I'll look forward to entertaining you with my unceasing wit upon my return.