IM2thenations's Xanga

CPC Ladies Prayer Group - Summer BBQ

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:44:36 GMT

Hi everyone. By the time I took most of these pictures the sun had gone down and the wind picked up. But it was a wonderful time. Thank you to Jeannette and Don for being such great hosts. You have an amazing property and what a view!

Blessing and favour to everyone and have a super summer.

Victoria Day

Mon, 19 May 2008 16:07:04 GMT

Photo of hubby who is currently in Holland. After many days of hot weather, the actual day of the 'cousins reunion' (May 17th) was actually cool and rainy, as you can see by the clothes he is wearing. Two of his sisters had organized the reunion and it was held at Evelien's house. They set up tents which was a good thing, given the weather and they had a lot of fun. That family is crazy as it is, so I can just imagine the fun they had. Although I miss him, I am very happy he decided to go. He is seeing tons of relatives and it is good for everybody to reconnect. He is one of 10 children, so you can imagine that he is kept plenty busy....

Saturday was amazingly warm here and instant summer temps. 28 degrees (celcius that is... for my American friends). Natalie and I hit the road - spur of the moment - and ended up on the beach in Parksville.

Sunday was church and then CLEANING. Renovations are such that the house was covered in a layer of dust, so I sweated off quite a few calories yesterday.

Today - other than updating my blog - I intend to do some more reading (note the book...it is fascinating, you should read it), paying bills (again...why is there never an end to that?) and make myself decent meals, which is not easy with hubby not here. I tend not to take good care of myself when it comes to food.

Speaking of food, I am back on the program, because I managed to gain a significant number of pounds during the last 12 months, given all the emotional upheaval and major changes in my life and family during that time. "They" are right, emotional eating is my downfall. But now I am putting myself back on track. (So cheer me on, will you, or I might become grumpy .....and you do not want to see me grumpy...do you now... )

May God bless you. May all the nations fall on their knees and worship our wonderful Lord, Jesus the Christ who came to save and restore. How amazing is His grace. It is BEYOND description. I love Jesus. He died to save the WHOLE WORLD. Salvation is for everyone. My desire is to be able to visit a whole bunch of the nations of the world...someday....while I am still in the land of the living....

Blessings

It must be getting late

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:35:27 GMT

9 PM Sunday evening and finally taking the time to blog. Yes, life does get in the way...loved your comment Gene...Does it seem like the older you get the less time you have...? yet I mostly have a GREAT time: spouse, children, grandchildren, work, friends, my mom, my sisters, other far away family and friends. I surely am a blessed woman, just seemingly a little short of time to blog.

Blogging does take a lot of time, and even now I should be paying bills, read 6 documents before tomorrow and perhaps take some time for myself to do some reading for pleasure.. and it is already after 9 PM Sunday evening. lol, while the laundry launders and the dryer dries.

Different subject: John and I have been renovating our home office, have had some bonfires too..feels good to burn some of those old records. Actually it is mostly him who is doing the renovating, I just try to keep things organized so that I CAN pay the bills despite the current chaos. My computer is now in the family room and the office stuff is on the dining room table, boxes and such throughout...lol oh boy.

Different subject: two houses have gone up for sale in our neighbourhood (around 1 million each). NOONE in many many years has been putting their home on the market. We all like it here too much to ever want to move. It will be interesting to see what happens though. Unlike the States, Canada's home values remain high.

Different subject again: was talking to a neighbour and we decided we are going to play some bad golf soon..lol

Different subject: new on the job for 3 weeks and being offered a temporary manager's position...honestly, I don't know how God does it, and that just as I was getting bored.

Different subject: walked >10k today with my friend Nina Yee who is practicing for the two day 60k walk in the "weekend to end breastcancer" in Vancouver. Here is her website if you want to sponsor her: http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Vancouver2008?px=2539304&pg=personal&fr_id=1255. Last weekend we walked the tc10k together. See our pictures on: http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=35923&BIB=10432&LNSEARCH=1&PWD=; you can search by my name or my bib number : 10432.

Different subject: Saw the two youngest grandchildren today. Hugs and kisses, pictures and more tight hugs and kisses. They are soooo yummy, I want to eat them up. I will save this post and then post some pictures, okay?

Love and blessings and hopefully I will try to post more often.

Renny

Can not believe it

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:50:21 GMT

I can not believe it was February 1st that I last posted to Xanga. But here is what happened:

I have been on a project at work that took up soooo much of my time. I worked long hours at night and on weekends. Tomorrow I finish my final report and then I am off to a new assignment. Same building, same ministry, just a different branch.

I am looking forward to it, but it will be quite different. I will be analyzing public policy and legislation for the province. Sounds impressive, doesn't it? Fact is, I kinda do not yet know what I am doing. But that is Okay. I intend to learn.

I also have an ulterior motif and someday I will share that, but not now.

In addition, I am very tired and need a break. I need a break from the intensity of the project and living life with tremendous obstacles that I do not have the freedom of making public.

Hey....other than that I am fine. But that is why I have been too busy to Xanga (kinda sounds like a dance, doesn't it).

Went to church this morning and just love being able to minister to others, where I had actually nothing left to give, because I felt I was not even able to receive anything. Nothing, nadda. YET GOD HAD SOMETHING TO GIVE to someone, so He did. HOW GOOD IS THAT! Don't ever believe that just because you feel like you have nothing left to give, that God has nothing left to give. 'Cause HE DOES! All I did was be the conduit. It was awesome.

I have had that experience numerous times; have you?

See ya

Friday, February 01, 2008

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:20:36 GMT

Just sharing a little bit of our Mexico vacation! First ever Mexico vacation......! And a vacation for just the two of us that was long overdue. It was a great success and we might just do it again next year.

I surely am a blessed woman.

Christmas 2007

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:59:40 GMT

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

and no.....it did not snow here. This was the picture of our front yard last year November

Kings will shut their mouths because of Him

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:26:17 GMT

Isaiah 52:12-15

'....For the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. See, my servant (Jesus Christ) will act wisely; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.........so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him"

Oh the glory of the Messiah! Many of the most hardened unbelievers will be struck by conviction. Christ is Wisdom itself. Those that saw him said: never was sorrow like His sorrow. But God highly exalted Christ, having shed his blood for sinners. May all opposers see the wisdom of ceasing from their opposition, and be made partakers of the blood of sprinkling, and the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

God is speaking that His justice will become a light to the nations. His righteousness draws near speedily, His salvation is on the way, and His arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands (including Vancouver Island) will look to Him and wait in hope for His arm.

So, dear ones, lift up your eyes to the heavens. Do not fear the reproach of men, or be terrified by their insults. God's righteousness will last forever, His salvation through all generations!! WAKE UP and clothe yourself with strength, because gladness and joy will overtake us and sorrow and sighing will flee away......

The Lord has put the word "justice" on my heart for 2008. I pray that scriptures about justice and truth speak to our hearts for the new year 2008. As I know some of you have been buffeted by the storms of life in 2007 as I have, I believe that new doors will open and that kings (those that 'appear' to wield power over us) will shut their mouths because of HIM, our MESSIAH.

BE OF GOOD COURAGE, for the Lord will go before you and He will be your rearguard!!

Funny Mommy

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:43:41 GMT

What a mom would say in a 24 hour period, condensed to 2 minutes and 55 seconds. Strap on your seatbelts!! You may have to listen to it several times to catch everything.

P.S. You do not have to be a mom to love this video "the mommy song"

(I think I have used every single one of those lines at one time or another, how about you...)

Quitting

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:31:34 GMT

I quit....

Well, not really. I decided to stop competing for a while. Don't know for how long. I had to recognize that I am not superwoman, and I did not want the job bad enough. I was screened in, selected to do a written test, a presentation and an interview. So, all was good, except....it was going to take a lot of preparation and that was just stressing me out too much. And my responsibility was to 'fess up that the stress factor outweighed the job prospect.

So there....I feel quite at peace....see me resting on a rock....I'm the big one, owning that rock

I AM BACK....and thankful

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:04:10 GMT

I know, I know.....I've been gone a long time. But now I am back. Thank you to those who have posted their concerns and love. Much appreciated.

Explanation: hectic life, major changes in our business (much planning busy), visiting friends and relatives (enjoyably busy), applying for jobs (stressfully busy), being sick (no fun), busy work, in addition to what already happened the first half of this year with my dad dying on June 10th. You know what I mean: LIFE happening.

Currently, I am in the middle of doing the year end working papers for our business and finalizing the sale of the business to our son, which - by the way - is an exciting and positive thing. Time for the next generation to take over. A good decision for all concerned.

In addition to all those changes, my temporary position at work is coming to an end in about a month, so not sure what my future holds in that regard. I thoroughly enjoyed this job and wish it could have continued; however it is not to be.

So, I am a little sad. I guess I am going a little through a grieving period on all fronts. With my father dying, my father-in-law going through major surgery (he is recovering), passing our business on to the next generation (which is a great thing, but still a major change) and my delightful job coming to an end.

While I am sad, I am at the same time thankful..... for what truly counts: my wonderful husband, precious children, in-law children and grandchildren; my mom (I am so proud of her) and parents-in-law; my brothers and sisters (blood and otherwise); my amazing friends; my bosses, colleagues and staff, all of whom are so very special; health; opportunities for mentoring, developing and empowering people; material possessions; I treasure all of God's abundance. And I am thankful for my Jesus above all...because He is my hero and the lover of my soul; He holds me in the palm of His hand and I am the apple of His eye.

Anyway, it looks like things are now moving towards "a new kind of normal". For example I went to a lecture on Saturday evening with Natalie to hear Naomi Klein speak on her new book "Shock Doctrine" (http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine), just because. And I am taking time to read for pleasure and sleeping in. Hubby and I also decided not to "do" thanksgiving dinner this weekend, 'cause we just wanted to cocoon.

What are you going through? Are you moving into a new kind of normal as I am?

.....till the next story