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.

FYI - Etsy Sale

There is a bit of a sale happening over at my Etsy Shop, in celebration of...hmm...the end of February?  I've marked almost everything down, some as much as 50% off.  Feel free to check it out...

I'll try to add some new things soon, but I haven't had much excess time for crafting lately.  Too much homework (or guilt about not doing homework) to sit down and create for hours on end!

Driving in the Rain...

Anyone want to see what it looks like outside here today?

 

Sunny California, indeed.  I just took this picture out my kitchen window a few minutes ago.  It is a RAINY day.  We have had ALOT of rainy days this winter.  It is the sort of day when it feels good to have the heat turned up, and all you want to do is stay inside, wrapped in a blanket, and read your book.  But alas, I must go out.  *sigh*

Driving in this weather is not my cup of tea.  See, I have no problem driving in the rain.  It's not raining that hard, so visibility is still good.  It's not that slippery, especially not compared to fresh snow, packed snow, or roads that are sheer ice from freezing rain, all of which I've driven on in the last year with no mishaps.  (I am, after all, from the Canadian prairies.)  So why am I not looking forward to getting out on the roads this morning?  Well, few Californians are used to driving in less than ideal conditions.  Every time I go out on the roads in the rain, I see at least one accident where I'm driving.  So, while I can be a defensive driver and watch the cars around me, that doesn't always stop someone else from spinning out of control because they were going too fast or trying to turn too sharp.  

I'm sure I'll be fine.  Most people DO slow down a fair amount in poor weather (haha - poor weather).  It'll just be a day to stay off the freeway and allow an extra 15-30 minutes to get where I'm going.  Ah the joy of living in California.  I share this with you so that you can feel as though you're experiencing it yourself and don't feel the need to rush down here yourself and further overpopulate this Golden State.  California has it's beautiful moments - alot of them! - but, like everywhere else, it's not always perfect. : )  And yes, I can hear your gasps of shock from here.

Pancakes

I made pancakes at 11pm last night.  They were SO good.  We'd had stir-fry for supper, which never lasts very long, so by 11 Nathan and I were both really hungry.  I used to love making late night snacks (like chili - from scratch - or left-overs) back in high school, so every once in a while it is fun to re-live those memories.  Haha.  And the best thing is there were three pancakes left over.  Perfect for my breakfast this morning! 

Hymns

I've noticed a shift lately (last 5-10 years or so) away from hymns being sung in churches, especially among the younger generation.  I've heard them described as slow, boring, and irrelevant.  Too hard to understand is another complaint I've heard. 

Now, I understand that some hymns are hard to appreciate (to put it lightly) or understand.  And some congregations sure have a way of making hymns downright torturous.  But I do believe that hymns can be done well, and when they are, they are some of the most powerful songs out there.  Besides, aren't the most lovely of gems often worth a little extra work?

Consider the richness of heritage and history in these songs.  Just knowing that most hymns were written by people who lived in a very different world than us and yet the writers praised the same God as us today is amazing!  And it didn't seem to take the very best worship leaders and the most popular songwriters to write a hymn.  Some hymn-writers were blind...some were in prison.  The huge variety within the hymnal is beautiful.

Sometimes I wake up and I have a song in my head, first thing in the morning. (not very often - I am NOT a morning person - but sometimes it happens!)  This morning it was a combination of "Holy, Holy Holy" and a newer, contemporary worship song - I don't remember which one.  It was a beautiful duet in my groggy, half-asleep head.  As I ran out to do some errands just now, the song kept playing in my head.  And I realized again how much I appreciate hymns.  They are like prayers.  The hymnal is almost like a prayer book.  It is written so poetically (ok, not all of them, but many!).  The songs are beautiful and so full of meaning and worship.

Hymns are very different from worship songs, I agree.  But I also believe that both can be fully appreciated for what they are.  If you are someone who doesn't really appreciate hymns, I encourage you to try listening to hymns somewhere in a different context than usual.  Or maybe just get your hands on the lyrics of a few hymns (I'm sure you can find some online if you don't have a hymnal close by) and read them.  You may be amazed at what you're missing...

Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy!
All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim
falling down before Thee (wow, what a picture, right?)
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy!
Thought the darkness hide Thee, (still so true!)
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy -
there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Brilliant!

I just thought of the 

MOST BRILLIANT 

gift idea 

for the twins 

that will be joining the 

McCorkindale extended family 

(Brandes household).  

I am SO excited!  

In fact, when I thought of it, I exclaimed 

so suddenly and loudly 

that Nathan jumped up from his book 

and looked quite worried.  

Hehe.  

It's PERFECT.  

I can't wait to get started. 

:D  

Karis and Jared, 

you're going to love it.  

Karis a little more than Jared...

but the twins will love it most of all!  

Too bad you all have to wait 

until I give it to them this summer 

before I can post pictures of what it is!  

Sorry.

I just had to share my excitement somewhere...

200th Post!

I can't believe I'm at 200 posts already!  Wow.  In the past I have done various lists using the number of significance on the given day...but I don't think I have 200 of anything that I can put into a list form, and I doubt that any of you would make it through reading a list of 200 anything.  So 20 it is.  (Like a tithe! - 10%)

1.  My parents arrive in one week and two days!  There will be here for a week before they continue on in their other adventures.

2.  I haven't been working on many projects lately.  Well, I should say I haven't been finishing many projects lately.  I have an afghan on the go as well as two baby quilts (that I mentioned earlier).  But the quilting on the latest one kinda shifted the backing fabric - I guess I was getting too cocky after such a good first quilt - so I'm in a bit of a slump, not wanting to mess up the next one.

3.  I miss our puppy.  We haven't seen Lennox for 6 months!  Poor guy probably doesn't even remember us!  Nah.  He remembers us.  But I still miss him!

4.  It is a rainy day today.  Apparently when it is foggy for a few days in a row, it means rain is coming and apparently that clears the fog for a day or two.  Interesting weather patterns here.  Personally I was enjoying our week of sun and warmth...

5.  Tomorrow I have a class from 9am-5pm.  I anticipate it feeling like a LONG day.  This particular class is split up into two weekend sessions.  After tomorrow, I have another full day of this class three weeks later.  Hopefully I really enjoy it, otherwise I'm really not going to be looking forward to March 13!  The class is Counseling Couples, though, so it sounds interesting!

6.  Nathan, as I type, is plugging away beside me on a book that he just wishes he was done already.  It is called "The Souls of Black People" and was written back in the 1800's or something crazy like that.  He's on page 200-something, so he's getting there...but he's not enjoying it!  Sucker...

7.  I bought Nathan a box of Raisin Bran this morning just because I love him.  He mentioned this morning as he poured his bowl of Corn Flakes (with tons of brown sugar!) that he was getting sick of them and really wished he could have some Raisin Bran again.  So while I was out running errands, I picked up a box.  And he was happy...at least I think he was. : )  Not a huge thing, but fun to walk in with them just a couple hours after he mentioned that he would like some.

8.  I got the cutest letter ever from one of our friends' kids the other day.  She had been at a birthday party and got a palm tree eraser in her goodie bag and wanted to send it to me because I'm living in California!  And the note was hand-written.  So special.  It is definitely hanging on our fridge with the eraser still attached (of course).

9.  Our house has not been as clean as I would like, lately.  (Obviously I'm running out of things for my list of 20.)  I usually go through phases of keeping it perfectly spotless (yeah right) and letting it slide.  This is one of those slide-times.  Haha.  It's still not bad.  The floor is vacuumed/swept/washed, there are no clothes on the bedroom floor...but the dishes haven't been done in a day and there are papers/books (homework) laying all over our coffee-table, there are shoes piling up at the front door (because we really have no entrance or shoe rack) and the cereal is just sitting out on the counter because I don't feel like organizing the cupboards so that it will fit (because there just isn't room, even if I do organize).  You know the feeling when you live in a place that just never looks "shiny clean" even when you clean all day?  It's hard to feel motivated to work hard when it's a rental and an OLD, rundown rental at that!  But that is no excuse, really.  I should spend a day tidying/cleaning/organizing.  *sigh*

10.  We have been watching Olympics here and there.  We've watched some moguls, snowboarding, and speed-skating.  Oh, and some ski jumping.  We really haven't watched that much, but some.  And we've even seen some of the Canadians, though only if they are doing really well, because let's face it, American coverage mostly just covers American athletes.  Logical...

11.  Nathan just finished his book!  He's keeping a count of how many books he's read in 2010.  He's at 15 now.  I'm so proud of him.  He works so hard. : )

12.  I've got nothing else.  You got 12.  I guess that can be one for every month since I moved over to this blog from ThoughtsFromSecondStreet.  It's been almost a year!  March 18 was officially the switch date, I think.  Wow, it feels like so much longer.  Feels like it's almost time to switch up the blog address again...but don't worry.  If I decide to do that, I'll give you much notice and walk you carefully through the transition so that nobody gets lost along the way.  hehe.

Happy 200th post everyone!

Busy morning

I have a busy morning of running all over the city for random appointments and errands today.  It's nice when you can schedule everything that has been piling up for the past few weeks/months into one busy day instead of many...but it makes for a busy day!  But I think it'll be fun.  I'm pretty confident driving in our city now.  It helps that American cities are pretty well set up as far as infrastructure and transportation goes.  I just need to jump on the freeway and I'm good to go.  None of this starting and stopping at red lights all the way to the other end of the city!

There's not much to write today.  It's been sunny and WARM lately, but I know how much I would hate to be back in Canada just hearing about it and not feeling it, so I won't mention that.  Homework is coming along.  I have a full day class on Saturday, which I'm not looking forward to (because of the long class hours, not because I don't think it'll be an interesting class).  It's supposed to rain on the weekend, though, so that'll make it easier to be sitting inside all day. : )  I keep thinking that if I just buckled down and did a week of homework straight, I could finish everything that I have.  Ok, maybe 2 weeks.  If I could manage to not be distracted for 2 weeks and put in nice, long 8 hour days of homework, I could probably finish everything.  Then again, the blog would be silent and facebook would feel shunned...and we couldn't have that, now could we?  Haha.  I'm sure everyone out there would manage.  Truth is, I'm just not sure I could!

Well, it's time to shovel my breakfast and keep moving if I'm going to get everything done today!  Here's to productivity!  Yay!

Rob Bell Live

Seeing Rob Bell last night was alot of fun.  It was quite a small venue (couldn't have been more than 500 people there) and we were in the fourth row from the front, so it really felt like a small church service or something.  Except it was pretty different from church.  Haha.  Nathan and I hadn't read his latest book yet, but Nathan bought the coffee table version half an hour before the show started and we managed to read the whole thing!  It's really not a long read. 

After seeing Rob in LA back in 2007, I thought I would feel kind of like we'd been there, done that.  But it was SO different in a small venue, like I mentioned earlier.  He really engages with the audience alot more when there are less than 1000 people there.  Not that 2007 was bad in LA.  He is still an amazing speaker, no matter how many people there are...but there's something about that more personal contact that makes it fun.

Rob Bell spoke on his newest book, Drops Like Stars.  It talks alot about pain and why bad things happen and how those bad things shape us.  A point that stuck out to Nathan and I was how pain can either make us bitter or better.  It really had us looking at whether our struggle with infertility has made us bitter or better.  At points, I/we have certainly been bitter, but overall, I would have to go with better.  Our faith has been refined through this like it would never have been if we'd just gotten pregnant right away.  And while I'd rather already have a babe or two in our home, I AM glad for how God has been working and shaping us and will continue to shape us into who He desires for us to be.

We drove 1 3/4 hours to get to the show and with it only starting at 8pm, it ended up being a late night.  We got out of there (with our signed copies of books and anti-Rob Bell propaganda) just after 10pm, went and picked up our friends' daughter who was being watched by her grandparents and arrived home at 12:30.  Now that wouldn't have been too late a night if we'd been able to get ready for bed right away.  But we hadn't cleaned the student center yet.  We hoped it would only take 10 minutes to quickly tidy up, but we were WRONG.  45 minutes later it was 1:15am and we were done, and TIRED. Poor Nathan had an 8:30 class this morning.  I, on the other hand, enjoyed my freedom and slept until 9:30.  Aah.  When else in life will I be able to do this?

So overall, a good evening was had by all.  Lots of jokes about heresy and how we couldn't be seen coming out of a place like that, lest someone from the seminary saw us. (Rob Bell gets alot of criticism thrown at him...as we were standing outside in line, waiting to get in, we were all handed a "Rob Bell is a heretic" informational postcard with sadly out-of-context quotes from his books...we proceeded to get this postcard signed by Rob Bell himself which made him laugh)

Not much on the menu for today.  Nathan is still in class...I still haven't showered, so I will do that before too long and get ready for the day.  Then who knows...  Hope you all have a wonderful day!