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!