Cheers Summer, Welcome New Beginnings

I figured I should do a post since school is starting and this may be the last one physically possible for me to write for awhile. So many things are sneaking up....summer is coming to a close which, for me is okay. There were a few things I didn't get out of it like camping and some more beach time, but it was good and I'm always excited by the fall. The cool, crisp morning, the rumble of school arriving, the autumn smell, the knowledge of Thanksgiving and fall wreaths. Halloween and the slow descent into winter when the world seems sleepy. It makes me content, and excited and calmed all at the same time. I am getting somewhat excited for the new school year, however daunting I know it will eventually be...I'm excited because I'm going with my new husband and at the end of all things, there are so many opportunities, my head spins. I have the knowledge that this will get me closer to a job I could do well past retirement, it will get me to my dream house which is my most favourite part of all this, it will allow me to see the world and build my own theatre house.
And, I'm getting married...a big step for me after discovering two years ago that I could care less if I ever married as long as I could have children. It's actually odd to me to think that I found someone I want to compromise some of my single freedom for but there's no one else I'd rather accomplish all the above with than my best friend and he'd help make fine looking children!
So, I guess that's all I had to ramble on about for today. Peace out.

When You're Troubled...

1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
2 in you I trust, O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one whose hope is in you

will ever be put to shame,

but they will be put to shame

who are treacherous without excuse.
4 Show me your ways, O LORD,

teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,

for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

for you are good, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful

for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,

forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ?

He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
13 He will spend his days in prosperity,

and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;

he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,

for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;

free me from my anguish.
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress

and take away all my sins.
19 See how my enemies have increased

and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,

because my hope is in you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God,

from all their troubles!

The Sixteenth

Today Dave is taking me out on our first romantic date in months. Last week, he surprised me after work with a box and inside the box were two gifts....both jewellery (yes, I found a man who knows how to buy jewellery and since we've been together has bought me three pieces, not including my engagement ring, which is sadly at Charm right now having the wedding band fitted). In the first case was a necklace designed to match my wedding ring; he wanted to give it to me on our wedding but didn't want me to go buy something and then wear this on the big day instead. In the second box was a replacement ring to wear until I get my original back. It's very pretty, silver with three little (fake) diamonds. And, on the back of the box was a note with the sixteenth written on it. So, the short side of this story is that I get to buy a new dress and that excites me...I love dress shopping.

Greek Philosophers Day

'Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain that they are their own.'-Aristotle.

10 Reasons Why I Love My Tree

1. It's huge.
2. It offers shade in the summer.
3. It gets leaves before the other trees on the block in Spring.
4. It looses it's leaves first in the Fall.
5. It's tough against the wind.
6. It's just plain pretty.
7. It houses a few robins.
8. It makes a perfect spooky tree on Halloween.
9. It supports my rain spout so I don't get leaking in my basement.
10. It doesn't produce poplar fuzz (even though it does shed those annoying sticky things).

Happy Mother's Day

Whew! Mother's Day was a whirlwind! On Saturday night, Dave and I stayed up late making pancake batter and prepping salads. We were up at six o'clock the next morning and drove an hour to Cowley to wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day with flowers and pancakes. Then, at ten, we drove back to Lethbridge, put some finishing touches on salads and burgers and went to the 'in-laws' to give Mama flowers and lunch. Then, it was back to work for me.
Today, is limerick day, so here is a little one I wrote:
There was a boy named Dave
Who was the Kingdom's knave
He broke into the mead
And stole the King's stead
So, the sent him to live in a cave

Happy Strawberry Festival Day!

Happy birthday to the strawberry which I celebrated by baking a creamy berry dessert. Yum.

Happy Birthday Robert Browning

Today is Robert Browning's birthday so Dave and I decided to pick a poem and read it. I picked a few and I find that Robert Browning is a horrific poet (in my opinion) mostly due to the fact that his words seem only meant to rhyme and a few of his poems actually don't seem to make any sense whatsoever. And then, I found Porphyria's Lover and it's actually really good. I enjoyed it; it gives a true sense to romantic poetry.

Porphyria's Lover

The rain set early in to-night,

The sullen wind was soon awake,

It tore the elm-tops down for spite,

And did its worst to vex the lake:

I listened with heart fit to break.

When glided in Porphyria; straight

She shut the cold out and the storm,

And kneeled and made the cheerless grate

Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;

Which done, she rose, and from her form

Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,

And laid her soiled gloves by, untied

Her hat and let the damp hair fall,

And, last, she sat down by my side

And called me.

When no voice replied,

She put my arm about her waist,

And made her smooth white shoulder bare,

And all her yellow hair displaced,

And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,

And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,

Murmuring how she loved me---she

Too weak, for all her heart's endeavour,

To set its struggling passion free

From pride, and vainer ties dissever,

And give herself to me for ever.

But passion sometimes would prevail,

Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain

A sudden thought of one so pale

For love of her, and all in vain:

So, she was come through wind and rain.

Be sure I looked up at her eyes

Happy and proud; at last I knew

Porphyria worshipped me; surprise

Made my heart swell, and still it grew

While I debated what to do.

That moment she was mine, mine, fair,

Perfectly pure and good: I found

A thing to do, and all her hair

In one long yellow string I wound

Three times her little throat around,

And strangled her. No pain felt she;

I am quite sure she felt no pain.

As a shut bud that holds a bee,

I warily oped her lids: again

Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.

And I untightened next the tress

About her neck; her cheek once more

Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:

I propped her head up as before,

Only, this time my shoulder bore

Her head, which droops upon it still:

The smiling rosy little head,

So glad it has its utmost will,

That all it scorned at once is fled,

And I, its love, am gained instead!

Porphyria's love: she guessed not how

Her darling one wish would be heard.

And thus we sit together now,

And all night long we have not stirred,

And yet God has not said a word!

Robert Browning

Quick Recap

Okay, so for the last few days, we've been in Vancouver for wedding dresses, but we still tried to do our festive days. Thursday was Global Prayer Day so we jammed to some worship on the drive to the Pass. On Friday was Truffles Day and we enjoyed a bag of Lindor chocolates. On Saturday was Raspberry Popover Day so we took some down to the ocean and ate them by a dead seal (yes, that sounds gross). On Sunday was Significant Other Day and we didn't really do anything but Dave and I were in a van with eachother for fifteen hours straight! I can't remember what Monday was for some reason, but today is No Diet Day so Dave and I decided to pick something junkfood-like and consume it. I tried the new Oh Henry Rocky Road chocolate bar and it was pretty darn good. That's all for tonight folks. Peace out.

Dancing Day

Since I get off work late...there's no real time to do anything except watch a dance movie and even though this movie is pretty much crap, the dancing is pretty cool and Dave and I already watched Dirty Dancing and Save the Last Dance this week so this was next in line. Party on!

Great Poetry Reading Day

A long, long time ago when Cass and I lived together and there wasn't much in particular going on, we decided to take those silly little every day celebrations like Hug Your Friend Day and do something for them. Well, Dave and I decided to try that this month. So, on the twenty eighth, was 'Great Poetry Reading Day' so we each picked a poet we enjoyed and read a few of their poems and then wrote one in that style. I picked Ellen Hopkins who writes books like poems similar to Sonya Sones. So, here's my poem:

Kissing is wierd,

for me at least.

In the beginning

all I know how to do

is kiss and kiss

until my lips are numb.

And then it wears off

like a drug high

and passion comes

from somewhere safer

and oddly enough,

somewhere more intense.

Passion comes from

my entire body

not just the 2%

on my face.

And I think

I like it best that way.

Hello blog...I've missed you.

Hello from Warm Lethbridge!

Wow, I almost never have time to post anymore so I thought I should make a go of it with the few minutes of Class I have left. So, the wedding grows ever closer! Invitations have been made and should be sent out sometime next month! I just have to make a few phone calls and make a final draft of the guest list. And bridesmaids will be contacted again, I swear....As soon as school is over, I'll be much more on the ball. Wow, too much work! Work is going well, too and I've posted a little here and there on prayer blog and such. I can't wait for summer though! No school, camping, suntanning, and planting my flower beds! I'm so excited, I've even started buying some of my plants and working at growing them in the house...I've become a mini-nursery! Anyhoo, my lovelies, I'd better scoot...Class is starting.

Ms. Allison Trumbley....or is it?

I never thought in a million years that I would be considering keeping Trumbley as my last name. I always disliked my last name and no one could ever say it or spell it right and I always joked that I would get married just to change my name. But, I have been handed the opportunity to be married and have the sur name of Sommerville; a name I like very much and one that sounds very good on me...sort of makes me sound like a movie star. Allison Sommerville. But Trumbley is mine and it's one of my single aspects that I can visibly show off to people. It sets me apart and I'm apparently very attached to it. I started to do that annoying thing where I write down Mrs. Allison Sommerville on paper and it looks nice but I'm not sure if it's quite me. Dave doesn't care either way....it's my choice and I'm not sure what to choose. I didn't think this was going to be so difficult.

Hello All!

Happy New Year everyone! This is my first post of 2008 and it's a good one....If you haven't heard yet, Dave and I were engaged on the fourth of January! Official invitations, etc will of course be sent out, but I wanted to post a picture of my ring because that's the most frequent question I get asked.

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!

Know Thyself

I'm twenty one years old and I listen to Bach while drinking green tea and knitting. I enjoy Bach; his melodies are much sweeter than those of Beethoven or Motzart and I'm twenty one and I understand that. I'm twenty one and I enjoy homemaking. My napkins are homemade; all my furniture matches. I have a flower garden that I love to work in and I cook. This morning I made breakfast for Dave and I. I'm twenty one and breakfast for two included an assortment of homemade crepes, pancakes, orange/pineapple pancake syrup, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns and breakfast puffs. I'm not writing this to brag, honestly, because a lot of people wouldn't be happy with what I do. I'm writing this because I'm twenty one and I know myself. I know what I like and don't like and I love who I am. I'm twenty one and I'm a woman who enjoys green tea and Bach.

Merry Christmas, One and All!

Hey guys, sorry for now posting for almost a month...deepest apologies and still, nothing really relevant but I wanted to tell you all to have an incredibly Merry Christmas and can't wait to see what happens to us all in the New Year! I'm excited for a whole bunch of new stuff that we never saw coming and I hope everyone gets exactly what they want. I love you tons and Happy Holidays!

Bragging

Okay, so last Friday, was Dave and my one month anniversary...something I had known but wasn't prepared to make a big deal because, hey, been there done that. But it still is something when you love someone and so, Dave, the ever amazement of my life, created a scrapbook for me for that day. He came by my work and handed me this scrapbook with pictures he had arranged from our Halloween and Tour of the City photos we had taken, backed with silver and gold paper and at the end, a pipecleaner tulip and a poem. He is so good to me you guys, you have no idea. And so, in the spirit of bragging, I made a collage of the book from front cover to end cover and a special picture of the poem he wrote me. Enjoy.

Lovers

Have you ever thought of the comparison between us, God's children, and Hosea's wife, the adulteress? Let me begin with scripture:

'When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.'" Hosea 1:2.

If you look at the book of Hosea, he was told to marry Gomer, an adulterous woman. Night after night, she would go to the beds of her lovers, wear their jewellery and indulge herself in false idols. God tells Hosea to rebuke her and punish her soundly which he does, but then, God does something tremendous, 'The Lord said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."' Hosea 3:1.

And I realize that it's hard to fathom this kind of love, even if we know it. You all will read this little paragraph and know it but not really understand it to its full potential which we never can do because we, as humans, aren't really capable of it. So, I encourage you to do a small exercise for me to get a good idea. I'm going to use a boyfriend/girlfriend scenario because I am well aware that most who read my blog have known insane love from a significant other as well as expressed it.

Think hard; how do you love that person? Is it so great that the thought of never having them around makes your heart weep with wanting, does seeing them make you smile without thought, or captures your breath? Does their kiss ignite something inside you that you can't quite place even though it vibrates through your entire body? If you answered yes, then take comfort in this, so did God! He proclaims to be our bride groom and he does such an impeccable job of it! In fact, multipy your love by at least one hundred and that might, just bight be equal to God's love for you and me.

I realize that you may have though that I was talking about redemption for a bit, but no, I'm only talking about love. Plain and simple, is God's undying and perfect love. The entire book, Song of Songs is full of his example and written is such poetry, that how can we not read it and fall in love with God?

He says, 'Like a lily among thorns, is my darling among the maidens.' Song of Songs 2:2. Isn't that exquisite? We're the lily among the thorns! If your significant other had said that to us, would we not blush or cry or do something equally emotional? When I think of God speaking that to me like a lover, I don't blush per say, but I get shivers all over. It's amazing.

'Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. Your neck is like the tower of David, built with elegance, on it hang a thousand shields of warriors.' Song of Songs 4:3&4.

I think that if we make up our minds to accomplish one goal with God this week, it is to look at him as our lover; the lover of our soul. Speak to him as such and love him as such and see what a difference that makes. I can't wait to hear what you all have learned from seeing Jesus as your bride groom. God Bless.

Thoughts

Hey darlings! I realize that Tina did a post similar to this but I'm going to post this way anyways! I know you have all had a time when God has been put on the back burner and you haven't talked to him in what seems like years and for those of us who are in love with him, it is way too long. Well, I started a written prayer to him at work today and I came to this: "You're so patient and awesome! Thank you formost for that! I'm so glad I have you. And it's dumb that I haven't talked to you because I'm thankful for so many things...
1)You
2)Dave; I love him so much! Thank you for bringing this amazing boy into my life!
3)My wonderful job; I actually really enjoy it and it pays all the bills!
4)My house; I have a place of my own that's safe and comfortable
5)My friends; not many people have the love and encouragement that I do
6)My family; see number five reason
7)My cats; they make me happy and my world would be empty without them

Lord, I thank you for all my life was, is, and is yet to be. I wouldn't trade places with anyone!"

So, anyways, y'all, I leave you with that and take a peak at Philippeans Chapter 3. I love you all and have a blessed day!

For Crying Out Loud
-Meatloaf
I was lost till you were found
But I never knew how far down
I was falling
Before I reached the bottom
I was cold and you were fire
And I never knew how the pyre
Could be burning
On the edge of the ice field

And the now chilly California wind
Is blowing down our bodies again
And we're sinking deeper and deeper into the chilly California sand
Oh I know you belong inside my aching heart
And can't you see my faded Levis bursting apart
And don't you hear me crying:
"Oh Babe, don't go"
And don't you hear me screaming:
"How was I to know?"

I'm in the middle of nowhere
Near the end of the line
But there's a border to somewhere waiting
And there's a tankful of time
Oh give me just another moment to see the light of the day

And take me to another land where I don't have to stay
And I'm gonna need somebody to make me feel like you do
And I will receive somebody with open arms, open eyes,
Open up the sky and let the planet that I love shine through
For crying out loud
You know I love you
For crying out loud
You know I love you
For crying out loud
You know I love you

I was damned and you were saved
And I never knew how enslaved
I was kneeling
In the chains of my master

I could laugh but you could cry
And I never knew just how high
I was flying
Ah, with you right above me

I'm in the middle of nowhere
Near the end of the line
But there's a border to somewhere waiting
And there's a tankful of time
Oh give me just another moment to see the light of the day
And take me to another land where I don't have to stay

And I'm gonna need somebody to make me feel like you do
And I will receive somebody with open arms, open eyes,
Open up the sky and let the planet that I love shine through

For crying out loud
You know I love you
For crying out loud
You know I love your
For crying out loud
You know I love you

For taking in the rain when I'm feeling so dry
For giving me the answers when I'm asking you why
And my oh my
For that I thank you

For taking in the sun when I'm feeling so cold
For giving me a child when my body is old
And don't you know
For that I need you

For coming to my room when you know I'm alone
For finding me a highway and driving me home
And you gotta know
For that I serve you

For pulling me away when I'm starting to fall
For revving me up when I'm starting to stall
And all in all
For that I want you

For taking and for giving and for playing the game
For praying for my future in the days that remain
Oh Lord
For that I hold you

Ah but most of all
For cryin' out loud
For that I love you
Ah but most of all
For cryin' out loud
For that I love you
Ah but most of all
For cryin' out loud
For that I love you
When you're crying out loud
You know I love you

Hello my darlings! Okay, so I have very little to say; in fact, hardly anything important. But....I was looking through my boyfriends blog and found it particularily interesting...he has a really different way with words and some of you may find it interesting. Plus, those of you who are curious about my new found love may find some sort of insight into his pysche. Or just be amused. Anyways, here's his link. Enjoy, my darlings. www.slippingthestream.blogspot.com.

Yay!

So, as most of you know, I have been in the habit of buying new furniture, ect, so here is a lovely picture of my apartment, post new stuff.

My Two Fave Things: Prism and my new boyfriend

Yes, indeed y'all. I've seen Prism yet again and they were indeed fabulous. I even snagged Steve-O's guitar pic, hoorah. And I went with me darling boyfriend Dave...that's right ladies and gents, Al's in love. Big time and I guess it's only fair that there are pictures involved.

So, here is Dave himself...the boy who stole my heart.

Yes, yes...and you couldn't get away without a picture of kissing

And here is us actually watching the concert and finally...

A picture of Al Harlow from Prism in his wicked awesome jacket

Holy Crap

So, life goes on as it always does, one thing leading to another; random events turning into something substantial...usually before we realize it. But I've been realizing a substantial event was coming for awhile.

At the beginning of September, when church started anew for the the fall, I sat alone in my pew...everyone that I knew still holding on to the last bit of summer and abandoning the service for a vacation. A kid I'd never seen before sat down at the far side of the pew. I smiled, he smiled; and that was that.

Then, during an intermission we happened to be at the same booth and he had mistaken me for someone I knew so I remedied that and introduced myself and we went along our merry little ways.

Through time, and Jerrah and my constant need to make the new youth feel welcome, we started an out-to-lunch get-together after church to which this guy from the pew (Dave) was always invited and we became friends due to our love of doing our hair and our constant sarcasm. We'd always sit together in the pew with everyone else, making an attempt not too annoy them too much with our bantering.

Then, on Thanksgiving Sunday, when no one else could make it for lunch, we decided to go by ourselves and we had fun. There was no conversation we couldn't touch, no awkward silence. We both ate way too much. And at the end of the meal when the waitress asked if we'd like one check or two, I said two and she went away.

Dave laughed, "I was actually thinking about asking you out, so I should have said together."

I smiled, "Well, I would have said 'yes', so next time, you can pay when we both know it's a date."

That Wednesday when I got home from work, I had a message on my machine from him asking me if I was free Saturday. I was not. But I phoned him and we decided that Tuesday we'd go out on an actual date.

On Sunday, we carried on our tradition of sitting in the pew, bantering, neither one of us letting on that we may be seeing eachother outside of church relations because, come one, no one really needs to know. That week at church was harvest festival, hence, a large thanksgiving dinner afterwards, which us and dear Amy attended. Amy left early and since I had some time to kill before work, we went for a walk.

Then, six o'clock pm came yesterday and he knocked on my door. Instantaneoulsy, I was a nervous wreck. We got along great as friends but a date? Were we insane?

We went out to the car and I was a good girl, I let him open the door for me (I have a habit of being a little bit too independent woman) and he noticed because he knows this about me and strangely enough finds it attractive. Keep in mind, I had no idea what we were doing for our date.

"I know I said I don't like dinner dates," he said, "But I was thinking to make it more interesting, we go to a different restaurant for each part of the meal."

I said that idea sounded great, so we went to a place called Mocha Cabana's for appetizers (a swanky little coffee house in the downtown). We ordered Bruchetta and sat and talked for a long time. Then, we decided if we wanted to hit everywhere else in time to eat, we'd better go. I decided on the next place; my fave place called 'Fire'. A classy club/restuarant. We had drinks (A Tom Collins and a White Russian). He had the 'Fire and Ice Wrap' and I had the 'Calamari Wrap'. Once again, we sat and talked for a long while before deciding to go for the final and most important stop...dessert.

Outside, as we were walking to the car, he stopped me and faced me.

"I feel so comfortable with you." he said and then kissed me. And it was good.

Then, we headed to a place called 'Yoyo's' for gilato but it was closed so I picked 'The Cheesecake Cafe' instead. He had the 'Swiss Almond Cheesecake' and I had the 'White Chocolate Raspberry'. We talked about all important things like breasts and my plugs and getting married (but not to eachother, don't worry).

Then, at ten thirty-ish, before they closed, we decided that neither of us wanted the date to end so we decided to drive around. The drive eventually took us to a little dirt pull-out outside of town where some making-out ensued which was a little unexpected and I teased him that he had planned on it and knew there was a dirt road out here. And then we cuddled in the dark of the car, soft music playing, watching the semis roll by until about twelve thirty. He drove me home, walked me to my door and kissed me goodnight and then I called my sister and blabbed all about it. Hoorah.

Important Events; 2002-Present

February 18th, 2002: Grandpa Bullock passed away.
February 21st, 2002: Grandpa's Memorial
February 22nd, 2002: The SSS see Wave in concert
April 26th, 2002: Met Gary Doer and Catrina LeMay Doan
May 2nd and 3rd, 2002: Clair Witch II was filmed.
May 14th, 2002: Escorted Sarah to the hospital when 'Timmy II' was removed.
May 18th and 19th: Grandpa's Wake on Heart Hill (now lovingly known as 'Jack's Place')
June 8th, 2002: The 'Cheese' sleepover takes place.
June 28th, 2002: Mrs. Geekie takes the SSS to see 'Hamlet' in Shakespeare in the Ruins
July 15th, 2002: Janna meets Cole Bullock
July 16th, 2002: Survivor, Act II begins
July 18th, 2002: Survivor is hit by a tornado leaving the SSS wet and cold and without clothes
September 7th, 2002: Chad and Kelly get married in Moose Jaw
September 13th, 2002: Young and the Genderless II comes into existance
September 28th, 2002: Mom calls...she's dating a man named Jim
October 3rd, 2002: The SSS sees Jake and Starfield in concert
October 13th, 2002: Met Jim for the first time
October 31st, 2002: Halloween and the SSS dress up as the Archie Gang
November 29th, 2002: Volleyball Provincials in Grandview...Cass kisses Courtney.
February 12th, 2003: Janna turns Sweet Sixteen
March 23rd, 2003: Sarah turns Sweet Sixteen
April 24th, 2003: Lip Sync for Spirit Week, the SSS wins for their N'Sync set.
May 9th, 2003: Al's last highschool dance in Strathclair
May 22nd, 2003: Al sees Romeo and Juliet in Shakespear in the Ruins
May 30th, 2003: Al's last highschool dance in Shoal Lake
June 26th, 2003: Al graduates highschool.
June 28th, 2003: Al cuts off her hair
August 18th, 2003: Suvivor, Act III begins
August 21st, 2003: Jeffery Pond ensues
August 23rd, 2003: The SSS attend Marty Thomas and Tracey Pederson's wedding
August 28th, 2003: The 'sperm panties' come into existance...thank you Sarah!
September 3rd, 2003: The SSS is divided in half as Cass and Al leave for Coleman, AB
September 5th, 2003: Cass begins first day in her new highschool.
September 18th, 2003: Cassie's Sweet Sixteen
September 22nd, 2003: Al begins first job
December 12th, 2003: Al's first job comes to a close
January 3rd, 2004: Al gets three more holes in her ears bringing the total to eight.
February 4th, 2004: Al gets her drivers licence
February 26th, 2004: Al becomes a brunette
March 4th, 2004: Al starts pet-sitting job for Jan Hodgeson
March 27th, 2004: Dad comes to visit for a few days
April 11th, 2004: Cass and Al go with two other youth and discover YWAM
April 30th, 2004: Cass and Al go to Manitoba to see family and friends
May 5th, 2004: Cass and Al return to Coleman
May 11th, 2004: Al gets her first car
May 17th, 2004: Al begins second job
May 27th, 2004: Teisha is given away
May 31st, 2004: Teisha is returned
June 4th and 5th 2004: The youth group camp at Chinook and have a ritual burning of personal garbage
June 7th, 2004: Tampa Bay Lightening wins the Stanley Cup
June 13th, 2004: Cass shaves her head
June 14th, 2004: Al ends her second job
July 4th, 2004: Brandy gets baptised and Al meets Cheex (aka Dave) for the first time.
July 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2004: The Hardway
July 24th, 2004: The all-nighter takes place with Al, Cass, Ryan and Cheex
July 31st, 2004: Al and Dave get together
August 16th, 2004: Al starts third job
September 1st, 2004: Al ends third job
September 4th, 2004: Al has her first kiss
September 18th, 2004: Al throws Cass a surprise party
September 26th, 2004: Al goes to Lethbridge for Dave
October 8th, 2004: Al meets Dan Charland and Keira Stinson for the first time (not knowing, they'd one day room with her)
October 22nd, 2004: Al starts fourth job at the kennel.
October 25th, 2004: Al recieves a promise ring from Dave
November 1st, 2004: Al and Dave adopt Oscar
November 5th, 2004: Al begins apartment searching
November 19th, 2004: Al moves into her new apartment
December 3rd, 2004: Dan and Keira move into the spare bedroom of Al's apartment
December 11th, 2004: Al and Dave attend the Ducan Christmas Party
January 15th, 2005: Al and Dave celebrate their six month anniversary
February 1st 2005: Keira and Dan move out
March 2nd, 2005: Al and Dave visit his psychiatrist....together
March 24th, 2005: Al and Dave discuss the possiblility of breaking up...but decide they can't
April 9th, 2005: Al meets Dennis
May 2nd, 2005: Al starts massage therapy school and Dave and Al adopt Nite
May 9th, 2005: Dave and Al break up..for real this time.
May 13th, 2005: Cassie graduates highschool
May 30th, 2005: Al talks to Dave on the phone
June 6th, 2005: Al sees Dave for the last time
July 12th, 2005: Al pierces nose
July 19th, 2005: Saw Prism in concert
July 25th, 2005: Al goes to Dr. for pap and breast exam, where a lump is found in her right breast
August 2nd, 2005: An ultrasound is done on her breast and comes up clean
August 20th, 2005: Al gets her second car
September 10th, 2005: Al throws yet another surprise party for Cass and Cass prepares to go to Eagles Nest for YWAM
September 28th, 2005: Al and Amber meet and become friends instantly
October 24th, 2005: Al sees Alice Cooper in concert
October 29th, 2005: Al attends her first adult Halloween party dressed as a diamond dog
November 25th, 2005: Al ends fourth job
December 5th, 2005: Al and her mom get their belly button's pierced
December 9th, 2005: Al goes to the Cadaver Lab in Calgary
December 13th, 2005: Al adopts Peony
December 17th, 2005: Al, mom and Jim attend the Nutcracker ballet in Calgary
December 30th, 2005: Al puts yet one more hole in her ear bringing the total to nine
January 14th, 2006: Nite dies in a tragic accident
February 7th, 2006: Cass returns home
March 5th, 2006: Al shaves her head
March 12th, 2006: Amber and Al start attending College Drive Church
March 15th, 2006: Cass gets lip pierced
March 31st, 2006: Dennis makes full parole
April 29th, 2006: Al graduates from massage therapy
May 22nd, 2006: Calmo Mao comes into existance
June 8th, 2006: Amber leaves Lethbridge and her and Al see eachother for the last time
June 11th, 2006: Al gets baptised
June 18th, 2006: Al and Cass write and record a song together
June 21st, 2006: Al starts fifth job
July 14th, 2006: Al ends fifth job
July 18th, 2006: Al starts sixth job
July 28th, 2006: Al meets Matt
August 5th, 2006: Al and Cass see Prism in concert
August 10th, 2006: Al gets tongue pierced, bringing her total to twelve
August 12th, 2006: Dad comes again for a visit
October 3rd, 2006: Al agrees to see Nick from the hotel; they go for breakfast
October 4th, 2006: Al decides that Nick isn't her type
Present time: Al is still at her sixth job at the Pepper Tree and is currently reading a library book entitled 'Usher's Passing'. Peace out.

Bible Facts from Fiction

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine the other day about the bible and he was bound and determined that it was indeed, just a good story book; that there was no way most of that stuff was real. Well, I agree that a lot of it may be exaggerated and not quite in perspective due to the fact that it was written by man who, as we know, often get things wrong. So, to prove my friend wrong (which I like to do), I researched five events in the bible that seem extremely fictional but in fact, may have historical merit backed up by science. And keep in mind, I’m not by any means saying that these were not miracles. I believe that they were indeed miracles; manipulations of nature by God.
Story Number One:
“But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them; and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots and upon his horsemen…And Moses stretched outhi hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land and the waters were divided.” Exodus 14:16-21
Fact Number One:
Russian scientist Volzinger determined that if a strong wind blew at 30 meters per second over a shallow reef, then yes, it could have blown that reef dry. He also calculated it would have taken the fleeing Jews about four hours to make their crossing. Some 3,500 years ago, the reef was much closer to the surface, Mr. Volzinger said. He set about calculating how much wind speed would have been needed to blow the water from the formation at low tide, how long the area would stay dry and how quickly the seas would come crashing back. "It would take the Jews — there were 600,000 of them — four hours to cross the 7-kilometer reef that runs from one coast to another. Then, in a half-hour, the waters would come back."

(http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040122-113947-8632r.htm).

Story Number Two:

“Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Jedaea in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jew? For we have seen his star in the east, are come to worship him…When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Matthew 2:1-10
Fact Number Two
Michael Molnar concluded that the star was actually a double eclipse of Jupiter roughly 2,000 years ago.
The former Rutgers University researcher came up with the idea while studying a symbolic star map on an ancient Roman empire coin from Syria, which depicts Aries the ram and other celestial symbols.
Molnar, deducing that Aries was the sign of the Jews, figured that ancient astrologers would have searched that constellation for a sign of a savior of the kingdom of Judea.
Computer modeling backed up his claim. But Molnar lacked historical proof until now, he said.
The Mathesis, a book written in 334 A.D. by Firmicus Maternus, an astrologer of Constantine the Great, described an astrological event involving an eclipse of Jupiter by the moon in Aries, and said that it signified the birth of a divine king.
"Maternus did not mention Jesus' name," Molnar said. "But Roman astrology was a popular craze at the time and everyone reading the book would have known the reference was to Jesus and that the astrological event was the star of Bethlehem."

(http://archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/12/27/star.coverup/index.html).
Story Number Three:
“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and fory nights; and every living substance that have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth….And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth…And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.” Genesis 7:4-24
Fact Number Three:
Columbia University researchers William Ryan and Walter Pittman speculated in their 1997 book "Noah's Flood" that when the European glaciers melted, about 7,000 years ago, the Mediterranean Sea overflowed into what was then a smaller freshwater lake to create the Black Sea.
Last year Ballard found indications of an ancient coastline miles out from the current Black Sea coast. The new discovery provides evidence that people once lived in that now inundated region.
Ballard, a National Geographic Society explorer in residence, said he studied shells found along the ancient coastline and found two types. One group is an extinct type of freshwater shell, while the second is from saltwater shellfish.
The saltwater shells date from the present back 6,500 years, while the freshwater shells all date to 7,000 years ago and older.
"So we know that there was a sudden and dramatic change from a freshwater lake to a saltwater sea 7,000 years ago," he said Tuesday.
"And we know that as a result of that flood a vast amount of land went under water.
"And we now know that land was inhabited. What we don't know is who these people are, we don't know how broad their settlements were ... but we're expanding our studies to try to determine that."
Ballard said his team, using remote-controlled underwater vessels with cameras, located a former river valley beneath the sea, and in the valley was the collapsed structure. Remains include preserved wooden beams that were worked by hand.
The structure was "clearly built by humans," and was characteristic of stone-age structures built 7,000 years ago in the interior of Turkey, Ballard said. It contained a stone chisel and two other stone tools with holes drilled through them, he said. (http://archives.cnn.com/2000/NATURE/09/13/great.flood.finds.ap/)
Story Number Four:
“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights….Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly…And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon dry land.” Jonah 1:17 and 2:1-10
Fact Number Four:
There is no doubt that there are sea creatures with jaws large enough to swallow a man whole and 'belly' is a fairly vague term in English, let alone in ancient Hebrew, so if Jonah was swallowed by a creature such as a sperm whale, he might have been in the great laryngeal pouch. There is an oft-quoted story concerning a certain James Bartley, when he was a harpooner on the whale-ship Star of the East, in 1891, under the command of Captain Killam, near the Falkland Islands. In the course of a whale hunt, Bartley fell into the sea and disappeared. The whale was killed and the next day, when the sailors cut it open, they were amazed to find Bartley still alive in the whale's stomach. He was revived and in time recovered from his experience. The report says, 'During his sojourn in the whale's stomach Bartley's skin, where exposed to the action of the gastric juice, underwent a striking change. His face, neck, and hands were bleached to a deadly whiteness, and took on the appearance of parchment. Bartley affirms that he would probably have lived inside his house of flesh until he starved, for he lost his senses through fright and not from lack of air.’ Also, the ancient Hebrews idiomatically counted a part of a day as a whole day, so that 'three days and three nights' could have been as short as 38 hours.

(http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v17/i2/jonah.asp)
*Prepare yourself; this last one is a doozy…it’s for those of you who have no other way to explain such a miracle!
Story Number Five:
“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away…And in the fourth watch of the night Juses went unto them, walking on the sea.” Matthew 14:22-25
Fact Number Five:
The study, which examines a combination of favorable water and environmental conditions, proposes that Jesus could have walked on an isolated patch of floating ice on what is now known as Lake Kinneret in northern Israel.
Looking at temperature records of the Mediterranean Sea surface and using analytical ice and statistical models, scientists considered a small section of the cold freshwater surface of the lake. The area studied, about 10,000 square feet (930 square meters), was near salty springs that empty into it. Nof figures that in the last 120 centuries, the odds of such conditions on the low-latitude Lake Kinneret are most likely 1-in-1,000. But during the time period when Jesus lived, such “springs ice” may have formed once every 30 to 60 years.
Such floating ice in the unfrozen waters of the lake would be hard to spot, especially if rain had smoothed its surface.

(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12152740/)

Redemption

How many of us can say we haven't sinned? I don't think anyone on earth can claim that perfection. And sometimes our transgressions are huge; so huge that we wish we could sever that part of us away. We wish that God would appear right before you and tell you that you are forgiven and not to worry. I am going to tell you that this wish is a reality.

Let's start at the beginning. Sin exists because of a lovely thing called 'temptation.' All the way back to the first sin when the serpant tempted Eve to eat from the Tree. This act has been in our human nature ever since;

'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptaion. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.' Matthew 26:41

This passage also reminds us to pray before hand so as to avoid temptaion; a saving grace we often don't use. I have learned that if you do indeed pray mightily to be saved from temptaion, your prayers will be answered; Even if it's because you were just busy praying.

I think often times why we don't is because we let our bodies be stronger than our spirits. Another common habit of human nature.

Jesus was tempted by Satan also. Let's look at Luke, Chapter 4:

'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit to the desert where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written. 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So, if you worship me, it will all be yours."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord you God and serve him only.'"

The devil led him to Jeruselem and had him stand on the highest point of hte temple. "If you are the Sond of God, " he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written:

He will command his angels

concerning you

to guard you carefully;

they will lift yoiu up in their hands

so that you will not strike your foot

against a stone.

Juses answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'

Whe the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time."

Jesus fought away temptaion just showing us how capable we are of doing the same. After all, at that time, Jesus was just a man like all of us.

Here is one of my favourite verses regarding the subject of temptation:

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up to it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.

And don't let these words discourage yoiu. I realize that we don't take the way out he provides us with every time. And the cool part is, God knows that that would happen! And so it is written:

"-maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." Exodus 34:7.

And that's why Jesus died on the cross! He was beaten ruthlessly and left to die on a piece of wood because we make such stuped mistakes. God loves us that much!

"This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 25:28.

And it's even simpler than that:

"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him recieves forgiveness of sins through his name." Aacts 10:43.

Now, I know you're thinking, 'how can it be that easy?' It's that easy because not only does God love us that much, he also knows how unforgiving we can be on ourselves. Because even when he's moved past it, we're still angry at ourselves. And, as always, he gives us a passage for this also:

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers, I don not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phillippians 3:12-14.

If God can forgive some of the horrible things we do, surely we can also forgive ourselves and more importantly, forgive others; our brothers and sisters in Christ. I encourage yoiu all, if yoiu have someone in you life (including yourself) that youhave not yet forgive, please do so now. God already has. God bless!

Titled: Jesus Busting a Gut

I was talking to my friend Matt the other day and I had been painting and he was like "Can you make me a picture?" I asked him what he wanted and he said he wanted a picture of Jesus just cracking up because you never saw him laughing; he always looked sad and tortured and he just didn't think that was Jesus' style. So, here is my picture of Jesus how I like to think of him.