Quick Note

Hey all! Well, a new year is coming up....more school, summer vacation, and miscellaneous other things to fill up the time and give us new experiences. I'm tres excited! Also, I still have the prayer center up and running which I'd like to see a big thing in 2008. You can post prayer requests or thanks on the blog and it can be our internet prayer connection. If you want to be added as an author, I can email you a request. I love you all and blessings.

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

Okay, firstly, wow am I ever bad at this once a day posting thing....apparently I've been too busy sleeping in and doing nothing! So, we'll do a quick Christmas update. On the twenty first I lazed around in the morning for a bit before my nail appointment at eleven. I met Mom and Cass at my house at one thirty where we baked cookies and hung out. Dave came home and we ordered Chinese and waited for our influx of carollers. Everyone arrived pretty much on time so we hit Starbucks and then frigidly walked around the North side (I say fridgidly because it actually snowed the night before! That's so great for Lethbridge...I have wanted a white Christmas since I moved here). We carolled for about an hour with a surprising result of people absolutely thrilled by it. Then, we settled down with gourmet hot chocolate, a ton of snack food, and the Grinch.

On the twenty second, well, I don't remember much. We slept in as usual and bummed around the house. We did some errands and then dolled up and went out to an Italian restaurant with Dennis and Kim and then to P.S. I love you....which was amazing! Afterwards, Dave and I went to visit Nana and open her gifts and then home to watch Christmas specials.

On the twenty third or Christmas Eve Eve, I really did do practically nothing. I slept in for way too long and then I lazily started putting together my Christmas dinner pumpkin roll. Then, it was time to go to work where I went and sat on my behind for eight whole hours. Then, home again with more Christmas specials and a Christmas puzzle.

And now, is Christmas Eve. I have a few more things to prepare for Christmas dinner and then I get to go to work again. I will be doing my damndest to make it seem as Christmasy as possible because my family is coming to the city to celebrate with us and they'll be getting started a good four hours before me. And then you better be good and all that such stuff because Santa Claus comes tonight! Merry Christmas all!

Five Day Countdown to Christmas!

Merry Christmas you guys....and a holly jolly Christmas Countdown is about to begin. Exams are finally over and most of us can enjoy the relaxing but bustling Christmas holidays. I'm actually done wrapping all my gifts and the tree has been put up (twice). Cookies and candies have been made and I spent quite a bit of money but that's totally cool with me. I'm also super psyched because tomorrow we're having a carolling party at our house....we'll meet here, go out in the neighborhood carolling, come back to the house and have snacks and hot chocolate and watch the Grinch. And tonight, Dave and I are going to watch the black and white Christmas Carol with his Dad...you know the one; with Alastair Simm? My only downer right now is that I'm battling a cold and it's kicking me flat on my behind. I can only pray for it to break by tomorrow evening or I'll be lugging a keg of coffee with me. So, you guys, I'm going to sign off for now, but I'll be posting till Christmas for sure....and to inspire you to visit, I'll be putting specially created Christmas photos up....today is the ever popular Christmas town where you can spot me on the tree, helping the Bumble put on the star. Happy Holidays!

Skirt Day

Remember that Thuursday, October 4th is Skirt Day everyone! Try and get someone you know to brave the cold weather and wear a skirt.

Phew! Short Post....Too Long a Wait

Okay, I have to learn to post more often! As you all know, Dave and I got back safe and sound from Manitoba. I am facing some cool new stuff. I start school on Wednesday which will be amazing. I'm starting to get excited about it although I'm still nervous...I'll definately keep you posted. Dave and I are trying out a new church on Sunday which is something we're totally psyched about and he shaved his beard! I was so happy with it, I cried; yes, I'm a major dork! Anyhoo, I better go....I have to be at work in a little bit, here and I have to go through some University stuff.
Remember to check out the Prayer Center...I actually have posted there more often!

I am finally taking a vacation! Yes, and the grand destination is Manitoba, baby. And I'm actually going to reunite with the SSS for the first time in, well, years and isn't that sad. But, on Friday, I will be sitting with Janna and Sarah and having a grand old time. I'm pretty exited. I'm going to be seeing people I haven't seen in a very long time. And on Saturday will be a huge Trumbley reunion as we gather for my Grandma's 80th birthday and then, Sunday I will be in the Duck Mountains, looking upon our old Survivor spot. It will be surreal and somewhat sad, but it will be good. And Dave will be along to meet everyone that has had impact on me. He will meet the important people and he's actually excited and I'm rambling and have used 'and' one too many times. So, I'm going to sign off for now and the next communication I have with some of you should be face to face. Love ya!

Three Important Lessons to Learn

Okay, so I had the most horrific day on Tuesday. Well, the day started off okay; Mom came in, I helped her run some errands, we went to the bookstore and then I came home and she went home.

I got to work at about 1:40 and as I'm talking to my co-worker, Doris, my cell phone rings and I miss it so I let the voice mail get it. An hour later, I finally have a chance to get my message and this is what I get from my Mom's cell phone:

'Hi Allison, you don't know me, but I'm with your mom, she's been in a car accident and she's in the hospital.'

That's it. That's all. I don't know anything else. I go tearing out of the office where Doris is with her grandkids in the pool and I am freaking out and crying and I'm telling her that I have to go, my mom's been in an accident. A woman there asked if she could take me to the hospital and I admit that I don't even know which hospital she's in. So, I make a panicked call to her cell phone and Mom actually answers.

I don't get much out of the conversation except that she's pretty much okay and she's at the hospital in Pincher Creek. I tell her that I'll be right there and she warns me not to drive until I calm down. I hang up and call Dave's work. They tell me he'll have a break in about ten minutes. I tell them to stress that it's an emergency.

Fifteen minutes go by and I call again. This time, I get someone with a properly functioning brain and they get Dave to the phone right away. He leaves work immediately and we're on our way to the hospital. I find out that Dave was told I called the first time but there was no stress in the emergency part of it.

After the original 1 hour drive plus 3 construction zones later, we finally make it to the hospital and Mom is in trauma. We find out that some crazy *expletive* ran a stop sign, driving over the posted speed limit and ran into my mother in the intersection. Well, as the cars were, my Mom ended up hitting her but the impact of it spun Mom's car around and snapped the end off her radial bone. So she was still in the hospital awaiting news of an impending surgery to pin the bone.

The doctors finally came in and put a partial cast on, telling us that she'll get a call from the surgeon to tell her if she needs the surgery or just a cast. They were pretty confident that she only needed a cast.

So, after the whole thing, I was probably worse for wear because of the stupid message on my voice mail that lead me to believe for an entire five minutes that my mom was fatally injured. So, the two important lessons I learned was:

1. The people we love the most really won't be here forever so enjoy every possible moment.

2. Some phone messages are non-descript and should be looked into before we practically blow up a lung from hyper-ventilation

3. Please, please drive carefully and watch the stop signs.

Nothing much to report on y'all, but I do have some new pictures of Dave and my trip up to Waterton after he came home. Enjoy and hopefully I'll have something intriguing to post at a later date.

Okay, so here's something less depressing and more like the old me....pictures! So, I'm gonna take you on a short journey to Vancouver with me. Mom and I went at the beginning of April and I finally got my pictures:


So, the body of water is the Pacific Ocean...well, realistically an inlet in which the ocean occupies space. And the conglomeration of buildings and skyscrapers is downtown Vancouver through which I had the "immense pleasure" of driving through. No matter, I ended up in I swear, the world's largest HMV where I found Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman on DVD.

And here is Cassie...darling sister of mine standing behind the counter of Vancouver's Best Coffee where she used to work. You can locate Van's Best on Broadway in Kitsilano. And the coffee's not bad but definately not the best. No offense, Cass.

And this is me and Cass' boyfriend Mark on the sidewalk of Broadway. I was freezing my *** off but they were like, "It's so warm out!" Although I look pretty happy for someone who's freezing their *** off. I think I was falling over and Mark was catching me by my jacket which apparently was very humerous.

And I couldn't not include a picture of the two together....how special. Of course there were a few other pictures and the side of Mom's face made it into one of them but this is the jist of it....drinking coffee and falling over on the sidewalks.

A Sigh of Relief

Do you ever get such a good piece of news that you start bawling your head off? Well, lastnight, on a whim, I decided to check Dave's blog to see if he had actually had time to post. He did. And all my fears were put to rest by this passage:

"Finally I said last time I missed Allison, this time I'll tell you I've never longed for anyone or anything this much before. Tonight before I go to sleep I'll look at the pictures of us together, and it wouldn't surprise me if there was a tear. Also my "beard" looks like wispy moss right now. I want to see her, I really don't want her to see me. Love,Dave"

And then, on our private blog to eachother, he wrote to me as well:

"I have no words to describe how much I miss you. I picture you in my mind and it doesn't even conjure an image, something more like a halo, shinning light. Everything about me wants to be surrounded by you, to feel you, see you. I want you so badly right now I would pretty much do anything to get to you....I want you to know I've never loved like this before in my life."

I have the best boyfriend...to think I was actually worried about him not loving me as much when he finally got a chance to be rid of me! lol. I wish I had something more interesting to tell you, but my life right now has been purely keeping my mind of becoming insane. It's working, for the most part. I love you all and I promise a more light hearted post at a later date.

What Could Happen In Three Months?

Alot could happen in three months.

Alot of good stuff can happen; a lot of bad stuff can happen. Of course, I'm opting for the good stuff. It just makes sense. I'll meet alot of new people, I'll bring in more money at work, I'll have countless time to write and work on my projects, I can hang out with my friends and enjoy summer.

For the next three months, I am single.

Dave and I aren't on a break or anything and being single is a mild exaggeration, I'll admit, but for May, June and July, my boyfriend is going to Prince George.

He leaves tomorrow and I miss him today. I can't wait for him to come back and he hasnt' even left. I think that my predicament falls in being scared that we might not make it through this without breaking up (it's as ridiculous as it sounds, believe me...we've talked about it). I think I'll be better once he's actually left, I have come to terms with loving being alone again and half way through his excursion, he emails me telling me how much he loves me, misses me and can't wait to see me again.

And I want to be able to reply to that, I love you, miss you and can't wait to see you again.

I have faith in us, God brought us together. I'll just miss him, that's all. I hope the horrible feeling in my stomach goes away soon, because I just can't cry for three months straight.

Ahem.....
I have a grand birthday shout out to make....Happy Fiftieth to my dad. He will not read it but surely you all remember lovely Al Trumbley and his incredible habit of pretending to spill punch on everybody at Halloween parties. So, yeah, that's about it....Dave and I toasted him on Sunday night as promised (Rum and Pepsi, no exceptions) and I will be having a glass of wine in his honor tonight. Thank you all and goodnight.

So Al Got a Tattoo

Orange Juice, Meat Loaf and a Healthy Dose of Hair Loss

Apologies all around for the lack of posting: I have been quite ill but now am able to capture your attention once again. Firstly, I'd like to start on the captivating subject of Meat Loaf. Not the food, the man.

Even if you aren't a fan of his music, surely you have heard of him. Famous for his hits like 'Bat out of Hell' and 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light', he has lived on for years (seriously, the guy is fifty nine!) and at the end of all these years has come out with the last addition to his Bat out of Hell CDs...Bat out of Hell 3: The Monster is Loose. And, in the tradition of such an unveiling, he went on tour and on the tour, he made a stop in Edmonton. Dave and I were there, with floor seat tickets. Oh yes, my darlings, it was the most amazing night ever and Meat Loaf totally rocks my socks!

Now, the title of Orange Juice may be confusing you severely and when I tell you it proclaims my boyfriend as the best ever, I'll really have you wondering. It all begins with this week's illness. I had a weeklong fever and strep throat and was dealing with the strep throat alright but was finding it hard to sleep with a fever. So, finally, on Saturday at work, I looked up relief for fever and one of the not-gross-sounding remedies was to drink alot of orange juice. Well, considering I get off work at ten and had church early the next day, my not-so-gross-sounding remedy got put on the back burner but at church during a delay in the service I was randomly telling Dave about this weird sounding relief antedote.

Well, no sooner had I got to work after church, but in walks my darling man with a whole jug of orange juice pulp free, just the way I like it. Hats off to my main squeeze.

And speaking of hats off....

In case you didn't catch that right off, I'm now indeed hairless once again. I think I look cute bald...that is the only reason I did it, plus it will grow back in short and blond and pixie-ish. And Dave actually finds me very attractive and I can wear hats without messing up my hair.

So, my darlings that is all that is new on the home front. I love you all and will hopefully post sooner.

Weird Ramblings

Okay, so life is funny and all around weird. It's Janna's birthday today (this isn't the weird part or the funny part; it's just a prelude) and I actually remembered which is the funny part because I sadly haven't really communicated with my SSS in a long time. I had made up my mind to call her and sing 'Happy Birthday' to her lastnight but before I went to do it today, I got really nervous, which is the weird part. My stomach was all butterflies and do you all want to know why?
Well, even if you don't, I'm telling you.
It was because I hadn't talked to her in so long that I was nervous...maybe she didn't even want to hear from me; maybe even if she thought she wanted to hear from me, it would be all awkward and once the birthday wishes were bestowed, we'd have nothing to talk about. The fact that the girl that was once my all time best friend might not have anything to say to me and vice versa, terrified me. But...I called her anyways.
And, she answered the phone and I sang my little heart out, followed by 'it's Al by the way'. And she got excited (which I'm hoping she wasn't faining) and we did indeed talk without awkwardness. It was good and nostalgic and a little sad.
Because (and I'm directing this to you, my SSS) God has indeed kept us connected through memories and heart but we're so distant. I felt sad because I don't know what's going on in Janna's life or if she still loves cheese or if she still spits when she talks or if she remembers when we made her try and be quiet for an entire lunch hour and she failed. And I don't know what's going on in Sarah's life and if she still has a computer chair in her house covered in her beloved dog's hair or what color her hair is next week or if she remembers when we were doing 'Get Another Boyfriend' as a lip sync and she was sick and came in to perform it with us anyways. And I don't know what's going on in Brynne's life and what she's taking in school, and how often she battles her curls to go straight and if she remembers when we went over to her house before the school dance in Shoal Lake and waxed our legs and armpits and I broke into a rash.
It's sad when my best friends on the planet; that shared a lot of my best years with me and went through a lot of growing with me, grow without me and make new best friends and have best years without me. I know I have done the same and I have cherished every moment of it; I truely have...but today was a day for mourning and rejoicing.
I mourn because of distance and time and I rejoice because maybe that distance and time hasn't quite eaten up the SSS. This may be just my thought but I'd like to think that we can muster up our friendships. Janna, our conversation meant alot to me today and I'd like to talk to you again; Brynne, Sarah, I would love to talk to you guys too.
And, as Janna has found out, I will indeed be in Manitoba on August 17th. I want to see you all. I love you and Happy Birthday my dear Janna Banana.

Love Affair

I felt sick; not physically though but emotionally and spiritually. I felt pressed, like I was suffocating and in one swift moment, whatever was pulling at me would crush me completely. I was not a generally happy person…I couldn’t remember laughing much since I was a very little girl but this weight, this sadness was much more intense. I’d have fits of rage come from nowhere. Any remnants of people I called friends were long gone, leaving me only with the men I entertained and they were very little comfort.
I heard of the man that called himself King of the Jews from one of my favourite customers; the one that came often and attempted to lift my burden with laughter and talk. He told me this King had made blind men see and had risen those with the smell of Death on them, jump forth and breathe.
“It must be nice to see such a man.” I said, lying there beside him in the little room I worked from.
“You probably could go see him. He’s coming this way.” My customer replied, his hand trailing down my bare arms.
“Why would I need to do that,” I said, suspicion growing in me, “I’m not ill.”
“Mary, you’re not the same…I’ve noticed; you’re different somehow.”
I had thought about our talk a lot but if he was indeed such a man, he would never heal someone like me, who made a living sleeping with many men. I was far too gone for a King to spend time on. Although, I found myself dreaming he would find me; I thought I could see his face. He became my tiny miracle that I held onto when I was working. He became a freedom from the life I was so tiredly bound to.
If I had been one to believe surely in miracles, I may have seen this coming, but it was as much a shock to me as any. As I walked through the streets that afternoon, smothered in the heat, I heard shouts of happiness bellow in the dust. I ran out into a crowd, curious at the noise and my miracle was standing in the middle.
His eyes met mine instantly, like he was waiting all that time for only me. And he walked toward me and laid his hand against my cheek and at the touch of his warm palm against my skin, I was released. I felt light and giddy and I laughed. I laughed until tears welled in my eyes and he held me against him like a brother.
When I stopped laughing, I clung to him, taking in his sweet scent (a mingling of dust and sweat) and I nearly wept. I felt like I had been waiting for this man my entire life and all the others were stepping stones to my King.
He pulled away with a smile and melded back into the crowd. But I was not done; I wanted more of him, I wanted to drink him in; touch him, kiss his cheeks. I wanted him to be a part of me.
And so, I did the only thing I could do. I followed him. I left behind my terrors in Galilee and I followed him onward. Every night, I’d wash his feet and lay down his weary head. I’d feed him and make him as comfortable as possible among the dirt and the stones. I’d fall asleep gazing at him; his beautiful face. I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning so I could see him again and talk to him. I was completely transfixed by Jesus. As time went on, my heart ached for him. I couldn’t touch him or love him the way I wished but I had his care and that was all I could hope for.
***
Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. She earned a living by pleasuring men; something that was dirty and very, very sinful. She was also very unfortunate to be possessed by seven demons which Jesus drove out of her. She was recorded in the bible to have left behind everything and follow him, taking care of he and his disciples. A task which I’m sure, she readily did.
If there was one woman in history that I’d aspire to be like, it would be Mary Magdalene. She had a life that was prosperous but very sinful and she knew it to be so. She was demon possessed and under that best assumption, though she was wealthy, was not very happy.
But then, Jesus comes to her and heals her and in that moment, she decides, ‘yes, this is my future entirely. This man, right here.’ And disregarding everything, she follows him and tends to him and through her earnings, feeds the disciples.
And Jesus takes to Mary. He cares deeply for her and I’m sure, told her so on many an occasion. I imagine it wouldn’t have been hard for Mary to fall in love with the Christ. If I were in her position, I would be madly in love with him also.
Wait, I am in Mary’s position. I’m a horrible sinner who, one day, came to Jesus and said, ‘Yes, this is my future entirely. This man, right here.’ He may not have driven out seven demons but he put himself inside my heart, warding evil things away daily. And he loves us. He looks at us like he must have looked at Mary Magdalene. With love and intensely deep caring. As a man looks at his wife-to-be.
The problem is, I have trouble looking at Christ this lovingly; as Mary must have. I forget sometimes, the immense relationship we have. I put it aside. I know he loves me and he provides a wonderful life for me but I take it for granted. I’m not going to lie; I do. And he waits patiently for me to love him like Mary loved him. And I want to; I really do. I want to ache for him.
***
That morning, early before anyone had risen from their slumber, I made my way to the tomb to spend just a moment with Jesus. I was craving to see his face one last time; anoint him with my oils and say goodbye. My eyes were filled with tears as they often were these last few days.
Even in the darkness, as I neared the tomb, I could see the stone had been rolled away. In a panic, I turned and fled to the town to the house where Simon Peter was staying. I rapped on the door in fury of fists until he answered, his eyes bleary from sleep.
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him.” I sobbed, tears tearing at my cheeks. Peter and Simon reached for their cloaks and ran down the path, leaving me weeping at their door.
With all my strength, I ran after them. I reached the tomb as they were turning back and said nothing to them and they did not say anything back but their faces were those of men who had been utterly defeated. I stood at the entrance to the tomb and stared in afraid of the emptiness.
But instead, two men were sitting on the bench where Jesus’ body once had lain. They were dressed both in white and looked so much like angels that I didn’t dare blink, in case they were to disappear like my Lord had done.
“Woman,” the one spoke; his voice was soft like a tinkling of a small bell, “Why are you crying.”
“They have taken my Lord away,” I repeated, a fresh flow of tears coming from me, “And I don’t know where they have put him.”
A sudden sound of footsteps made me turn. A man was standing there, looking at me very concerned as if I had lost my very mind, which, seemingly, I may have, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him so I may get him.”
“Mary,” The man said. His voice was all too familiar and his eyes became the eyes of Jesus. The man before me was my love.
“Rabboni!” I cried, leaping at him and throwing my arms around him, tightly. As tightly as I dared. He smiled but pulled away from me.
“Do not hold on to me for I have not yet returned to my Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” He whispered.
I released him slowly; looking at him like a dream that fades when you wake up. My body yearned to hold him. I ached; I could feel it in my very bones. The creation of my muscles was solely for loving my Lord.
***
Imagine, Mary who loved Jesus with all of her heart was parted from him and got one more chance to see him. How excited she must have been! I can’t see why she wouldn’t have wanted to hold him until time escaped them.
That’s the kind of meeting Jesus wants with us when we get to Heaven. He wants us to love him so dearly that we don’t want to let him go…that, like Mary, we would do anything to keep hold of him. He wants us to be crazy, blubbering people for him. He loves that about us.
So, if I were to choose someone to aspire to be, I want to be Mary Magdalene. I want to ache and be crazy and cry for Jesus. I want to be the woman who would leave everything behind and follow the man I love forever. I want to one day be in Heaven and be able to touch him for the first time. To hold onto him like I’d never let him go and have him wrap his arms around me and physically feel it. And not only that, I want everyone to feel that way. I want to share this wonderful King with everyone so that they may love him as Mary loved him. I want to have a love affair with God.

Trip

Okay, so all excited because this weekend Dave and I are going on our first weekend trip together. That's right and when I tell you where it is you'll be like; who cares, but truely, it is exciting.

We are going to Camrose, Alberta.

What's in Camrose? you ask.

My friend Amber. I would answer. You must all remember Amber:

We haven't seen eachother since last summer when she sadly moved away....To Camrose. And now, Dave and I are going to spend the weekend with her and get away. I'm excited...I think he's excited so yay!