Shout it Out!

Fear Falling

2012-01-07T14:12:00.000-08:00

Fear has always played a large role in my life. Even when I was a little kid I was afraid of so many things that it's no wonder I developed anxiety as I grew older. I've been focusing my prayers lately on having freedom in my life. Freedom in the sense that I no longer fear the unknown and that I feel secure with God and who I am.

Where the spirit of the lord is
There is freedom

Many Christians talk about how they found freedom as soon as they became Christians... they were released from their fears and anxieties and were at peace. I did have that peace for a while, but overtime it faded even though I love God as much as I did then. I feel that this time is not a time for me to resist and struggle, but rather I am learning how to be released from my inner demons completely. This journey has made me face my innermost struggles such as forgiveness that I've been withholding, feeling inadequate, and the general belief that I am just never good enough. It's not easy. It's actually terrifying when I stop and think about it, but I'm doing it one small step at a time.

So if you're tired and thirsty
Turn to Jesus

Lord reign in me.

Viral

2011-12-05T21:42:00.000-08:00

My favourite Christmas carol as a kid was always (and still is) Little Drummer Boy. Check out this sweet version by 16 year old Sean Quigley from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNcD34KFhM

Behold! It speaks!

2011-08-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

So I am blogging.

My husband is going pro with his blog and doing the whole "I need a brand" thing, but I am not. I'm the random and big picture to his logic and details. It's pretty much a super power.

I need to point out that it is summer time, which is my favourite time of the year. LOVE LOVE LOVE summer. Hopefully we'll get to go somewhere hot and sunny in the midst of this winter.

The end of summer, however, does mean the beginning of fall which means back to school. I always LOVED back to school as a kid....especially SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING! This year I will be entering my sixth year of post secondary and 19th year of schooling. Is that right? All so I can have another piece of paper that licenses me to do counselling. Well actually it will qualify me to license after I complete 1500 hours of supervision and study for months on end and go before a board to prove that I'm competent. No biggy.

I also want to point out that I don't want to be a stay at home mum (no, I'm not preggers). I mean, I would like to take a mat leave, but I'm pretty confident in saying that I'd go batty if I stayed home all the time with the kidlets. Seriously. Just ask the two year old I nannied.

Okay, signing out!

If I Lie Here

2011-04-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge music person (you should hear me play the clarinet) but during certain times in my life there have been songs that resonate with me that I tend to listen to over and over again. Unfortunately for LMB the song I was obsessed with during a particularly nasty break up was The First Cut is the Deepest sung by Sheryl Crow. The song that stands out to me as we grieve Uncle Doug is Fix You by Coldplay. Thankfully for Philip I've upgraded to an ipod so no one has to be stuck in a car with me listening to the same song over and over again.

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

I Gotta Feeling

2011-03-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

Being with death is... depressing? hard? stupid? anger provoking? stressful? All of the above.

Signs of stress:

Grinding teeth (check)

Stomach aches (check)

Headaches (check)

Irritability (check)

Isolation (half check)

Tiredness (check)

Nightmares (check)

Facing death is SO much easier when the people around you (especially the person who is dying) knows God. It's definitely not easy, but there is a certain amount of peace that comes with it. Otherwise you feel like you're being dragged across minefield when you know there is a lovely field of daisies right next to it that desperately wants you to come over.

Maybe I am a Jesus Freak.

I'll Love you Forever, I'll Like you for Always

2011-03-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

As we are mourning the passing of a very special person, it brings me hope and encouragement to know that new life is being formed.

We will welcome our little niece or nephew to the world shortly after we say goodbye to my amazing uncle.

God brings new life and it is good.

I'm Not Actually on Facebook... My Blog just Links to my Account!!!

2011-03-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

I've heard through the grapevine (not my checking my facebook account) that people are commenting because my blog automatically links to my account and it looks like I'm cheating on my Lent promise. I'm not! Really!

I handed in another paper today for school, this one was about multicultural counselling and issues in working with Russian immigrants. Personally I find it fascinating. I didn't realize how important multicultural counselling is until I took this course. It's giving me a small glimpse of what life is like as a new immigrant in Canada and the feelings of loneliness and isolation that come with leaving your home country. I don't know if it's something I could do permanently, but I also know that people are incredibly resilient when they need to be.

Best Thing Ever.

2011-03-10T20:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9f-6jygRJk

This made me very happy to watch. You should check it out.

40 Days and 40 Nights

2011-03-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

Day One Without Facebook.

My browser keeps automatically drawing up Facebook which is quite annoying seeing as I decided to give it up for Lent. Philip was not convinced that this was enough to give up, little does he know about the addiction that is reading other peoples' statuses. And so I'm blogging which I do enjoy.

Why give up Facebook? Because I spend way too much time browsing other peoples' pages without actually making connections like I'm supposed to. At one point I had over 300 "friends" but only actually communicated with a handful of them.

I am a huge fan of www.dooce.com which is Heather Armstrong's blog. She is a professional blogger/writer that is hilarious and honest.

I've been coughing so much that my abs hurt. I think I may have this cold forever.

p.s. If you're reading this on Facebook it's because my blog automatically links to my account. See my page for my e-mail address (not the hotmail one) if you wish to contact me in cyber land.

Live from 614

2011-03-03T21:17:00.001-08:00

A comment from one of my favourite places in the world...

"This area is extremely sketchy. Surrounded by salvation armies and
homeless shelters. You can hear crazy people screaming at night..."

This just makes my life.

Butterflies on the Window

2011-02-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

Things I'd Rather be Doing than Writing my Paper

Eat chocolate
Bake banana bread
Watch Gilmore Girls or How I Met Your Mother
Read a fiction novel
Swim
Sit in a hot tub
Cross County Ski
Drink coffee
Scrapbook
Clean the bathroom
Write with my pink pen
Fold laundry
Blog
Post to the discussion forum
Read dooce.com
Drink iced tea
Hang out with people
Make dinner (I'm that desperate!)
Write a letter
Plan a vacation
Go on vacation
Eat candy
Go shopping
Go to a movie
Sit by the fireplace
Journal
Go on a road trip

Slightly Inappropriate

2011-02-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Twilight fans,

Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping through them, they can never get an erection.

Enjoy fantasizing about that.

Sincerely, Logic

Dear Icebergs,

Sorry to hear about the global warming. Karma's a bitch.

Sincerely, The Titanic

Dear America,

You produced Miley Cyrus. Bieber is your punishment.

Sincerely, Canada

Dear Boyfriend,

I can make your girlfriend scream louder than you can.

Sincerely, Spiders

Dear Voldemort ,

So they screwed up your nose too?

Sincerely, Michael Jackson

Dear Yahoo,

I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo! it..." just saying...

Sincerely, Google

Dear girls who have been dumped,

There are plenty of fish in the sea... Just kidding! They're all dead.

Sincerely, BP

Dear 2010,

So I hear the best rapper is white and the president is black? WTF happened?!

Sincerely, 1985

Dear Justin Bieber ,

Ariel would really love her voice back.

Sincerely, King Triton

Dear Rose,

There was definitely room on that raft for the both of us.

Sincerely, Jack

Dear Windshield Wipers,

Can't touch this.

Sincerely, That Little Triangle

Dear Taylor Swift,

If it is of any interest to you, Romeo and Juliet both kill themselves in the end.

Sincerely, Shakespeare

Dear Soccer Fans,

B B B B B B Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z!

Sincerely, Vuvuzelas

Dear Saturn,

I liked it, so I put a ring on it.

Sincerely, God

Dear Rubik's Cube,

Done!

Sincerely, Colorblind

Dear Santa,

Please tell me how you managed to stop at three Ho's.

Sincerely, Tiger Woods

Dear Boys Wearing Skinny Jeans,

I. Can't. Breathe.

Sincerely, Your Balls

Dear Martin Luther King Jr.,

I have a dream within a dream within a dream within another dream... What now?

Sincerely, Leonardo DiCaprio

Dear Sleeping Beauty,

I had to join the army, dress up like a man, defeat the hun army and totally save China for my man.

All you had to do was wake up.

Sincerely, Mulan

Dear Romeo,

My death isn't the only thing I've been faking...

Sincerely, Juliet

Dear Fox News,

So far, no news about foxes.

Sincerely, Unimpressed

Dear Sex Educators,

Abstinence is only 99.99% effective.

Sincerely, The Virgin Mary

Dear Toaster,

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn?

Sincerely, Toast

Dear Prince Charming,

You've got some explaining to do!

Sincerely, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty

2011-01-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

Top Ten Most Influential People in my Life for 2010

J.C.
P.W.
S.M.
D.M.
W.W.
F.W.
S.S. x2 + J.S.
L.B.A
R.M. x2
J.M.

So I sort of cheated with number 7, it is actually three people... two of them happen to have the same initials (same with number 9) and one is sort of a package with the other.

Ring-a-Ling

2010-12-31T07:48:00.000-08:00

Shout out to Susan K! I'm glad you understand my ramblings!

I've never really been one to thoroughly examine my life on new year's eve... I've also never really been one to go all out in celebrating the new year. This, of course, doesn't mean I don't examine my life or celebrate on a regular basis, just not really on this day. I certainly grew a lot in 2010, perhaps I'm getting closer to being a true adult (shutter). There have been many days where I felt as though God threw me in a situation and left me to doggy paddle my way through it. Looking back I know that this was not the case, and I am certainly a stronger person than I was one year ago.

I'm amazed at how my compassion is growing and changing. I've learned that there is a difference between compassion and sympathy and that they do not always go hand in hand. I've also learned that it is possible to have compassion for someone I do not like... that's been a tough one. I've also learned that counselling is not about me, but all about the client. I must never satisfy my own needs through my clients... that's called counter-transference. This is something they teach in school, but you can't really understand it until you're in the trenches. Also, following God is more important than satisfying my own wordly needs.

And now to leave you with one of the 16 new warning pictures on cigarette packages. Personally this scares the crap out of me. I do, however, challenge everyone to have compassion for people who smoke, even if you don't have sympathy. It's important to understand that nicotine is an addiction and extremely hard to quit.

Climb Every Mountain

2010-08-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

The lovely Laura just posted a new blog with life goals...something I've been meaning to do for a while, so here we go:

Get my masters
Travel to every continent
Master French once again
Take a Leave of Absence to go to another country for a while
Read all the books on the previously posted list, incuding the Bible cover to cover
Make my kids' Halloween costumes
Make an inlay
Bring people food just because
Attend a Salvation Army conference
Get a tattoo on my 30th birthday
Do more street ministry
Have kids
Take pilates
Be comfortable in my own skin
Journal more
Teach a university class
Be active
Go on a tropical vacation with Laura
Be a wonderful wife

Do You Have What it Takes?

2010-06-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

Requirements to be an addictions counsellor:

1) Believe that no matter how many times a person relapses they can change.
2) Believe that there is light in everyone.
3) See relapse as an opportunity.
4) Take care of your own light.

"Everyone needs compassion,
A love that's never failing,
Let mercy fall on me".

Really?

2010-06-02T18:31:00.001-07:00

So we've been attacked by telemarketers lately who keep using different phone number displays. Because of the lovely teachings of my amazing mum, I've always been very polite to telemarketers because, after all, they're just trying to earn a living. Tonight, however, I hit my breaking point after two VERY rude calls in a row!

Me: Hello
Telemarketer: Hello is this Ms. Waters
Me: Yes it is
T: I'm calling to offer you a unique opportunity with Bell Canada blah blah blah
Me: Thank you, but I'm not interested. Have a nice evening.
T: *Sigh* *Groan* Whatever Ms. Waters. Clearly you don't want to save money.

Are you kidding me?! I'm not stupid.

I officially added our phone number to the no call list.

Life is good

2010-05-30T20:45:00.001-07:00

I'm doing laundry without having to insert loonies.

That is all.

The Music Always Makes me Smile

2010-05-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

Productivity: 0
Procrastination: 1

I have many thoughts to write about but they never seem to come out in a poetic way. Perhaps I'm just not poetic. That's okay... I think.

It's rainy and gloomy which makes me feel tired. People are far far away which makes me feel lonely.

Grey's is done for the season which means Thursdays are a bit less exciting.

My office is in need of some serious organization. I like the idea of having a neat and tidy work space, but it drives me crazy when I can't just spread out. A girl at work said it means I'm artistic. I think it's because I'm scatterbrained and not detailed oriented... but artistic is much nicer.

In the Life of Me

2010-05-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

Recent Musings:

-Being a woman of honour
-How I Met Your Mother
-Packing all of our possessions in two days
-Moving
-Living in an empty apartment
-Discovering free popcorn at the movie store
-Discovering caramel lattes
-Wondering what Philip would say if I wanted a cappucinno maker
-Really needing glasses
-Not having vision benefits

Asparagus

2010-04-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

From the talking vegetables of Veggie Tales, I give you God is Bigger Than the Boogies Man:

God is bigger than the boogie man.
He's bigger than Godzilla,
or the monsters on TV.
Oh, God is bigger than the boogie man.
And He's watching out for you and me.

God is also bigger than your inner demons. He is bigger than the shameful secrets we all have, our biggest fears, and our deepest regrets.

Baked

2010-01-01T18:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Neighbour:

Please stop parking facing the wrong way in front of our building. It annoys me everyday!!!!

Tonight our apartment is filled with the scent of brownies baking in the air. I have an awesome recipe from the cookbook "Clueless in the Kitchen" by Evelyn Raab

Antidepressant Brownies

1/2 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
2/3 cup Oil
1/2 cup Boiling Water
2 cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1.5 cup Flour
1 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Coarsely chopped nuts (hazelnut is Fred's favourite...Just kidding)

Preheat the oven to 350F
Grease a 9X13 inch baking pan
In a large bowl, stir together the cocoa and baking soda. Blend in 1/3 cup of the oil, and mix until smooth. Pour in the boiling water, stirring until the mixture thickens-for complex scientific reasons it will thicken. Now stir in the rest of the oil, the sugar, and the eggs. Mix until smooth.
Add the flour and the vanilla. Blend completely-there should be no lumps. Now mix in the nuts (if you're using them), and pour into the greased baking pan. Spread the batter evenly to avoid crispy edges-not a good thing in a brownie.
Bake at 350F for 35 to 40 minutes, until jsut set in the middle, Don't overcook brownies-they are always better when slightly soggy.
Let cool and cut into squares. But you can't wait that long, can you? Oh, all right, eat them hot-despite what your mum told you, warm brownies won't make you sick.
Makes about 20 brownies.

Hmmm Maybe I'll be the next Julie Powell...but probably not.

The Truth Isn't Sexy

2009-12-21T18:43:00.000-08:00

How much do you know about human trafficking?

I'm still learning, and trying to figure out how I can help.

I'm trying to make it an intention to pray for victims of human trafficking.

What's a lot harder is to not support companies that use slave labour. Everywhere I go are things I want to buy that have been produced by people who are not being treated fairly. So how do I satisfy my social conscience and my desire to shop? Thrift stores are starting to become a good solution. Also, Gap jeans are now ethically made in Canada. Fair Trade coffee is also easier to come by (yay!)

Also go here to learn more about human trafficking.

On a happy note...Merry Christmas!!!

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad...

2009-11-03T14:06:00.001-08:00

I just simply remember a few of my favourite things... (in no particular order)

-Reading
-Gilmore Girls
-Red
-Pink
-Mary Kay
-The Salvation Army
-Letters
-Scrapbooking/Card making
-Photocopying things
-Flowers
-Suns wearing sunglasses
-Board games
-Being Erica
-Rocky Mountain Soap Co.
-Grey's Anatomy
-Markers
-Stickers
-Getting my hair cut
-Fair Trade Coffee (especially from Beaners)
-Chocolate
-Teaching bible study
-Camp
-Bagolac Saigon
-Summer
-The smell of freshly cut grass
-Colourful throw pillows
-Travelling

By Golly, She's Got it!

2009-10-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

This morning I was out at a school doing a couple of presentations. The first one was for grade two students about spit tobacco. These kids know a lot about spit tobacco as many of them have been offered it in the past (can we say high risk?).
I was teaching them how to recognize what is bubble gum and what is chew, and what the difference is. As I was talking about the effects chew tobacco has, one little girl put up her hand and asked, "If people know it's bad for you, why do they keep making it"? Excellent question! I did my best to explain in seven year old language that companies make tobacco because they know it's addictive, and because of that they can make lots of money. One tobacco representative made the comment that "Nicotine is highly addictive. We are therefore in the business of selling nicotine".

Somewhere I have the link that shows you all of the internal documents from major tobacco companies that the US court made public. I'll find it eventually.

In the mean time, shout out to Beamer's Coffee Bar!

Philo

2009-10-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

I've heard from a few different people that it's not possible to leave comments on my blog. If you know how to fix this, let me know!

In other news, I'm going to try to slowly read my way through the list of 100 books everyone should read.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare - (I"ve read some!)
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy.
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth.
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt.
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo -

To begin I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

This Thing Called...Chocolate

2009-10-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

Calgary Traffic Report:

Glenmore Trail East bound is backed up all the way to Crowchild Trail because of an accident at Glenmore and Deer Foot. Consider an alternate root.
Deerfoot Trail on the Calf Robe Bridge is closed because of construction. Use an alternate route.
Macleod Trail both directions is a mess down by Sundance.
Douglasdale Blvd and Deer Foot is blocked because of an accident.
Blackfoot Trail and Manhattan Road is backed up all directions because the lights are flashing red.
Good luck.

Canmore Traffic Report:

Photo radar on 15th Street.
The end.

So have you guessed some of the perks of living in a small town instead of a large city? Every once in a while I miss having certain luxuries at my fingertips, but usually I am very content to stroll down Main Street and breathe in fresh air. Also, the recent snow gives the mountains a fresh glow which I find wonderful.

Faith is a Journey

2009-09-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Faith, like anything in life, is a journey. This can be especially difficult because we live in a society that thrives on instant solutions. This thought came to me this morning as I was reading The Shack.

When a person comes to our office for addictions counselling, they fall into one of five categories of change. If they have no desire to change, and don't think there is a problem, we say they are Precontemplative. If they are thinking perhaps they need to change, and are starting to see the effects of their addiction, they are Contemplative. If they are getting ready to change, and are making a commitment to stop using, they are in the Preparation Stage. When they are actually putting their plan in action and moving forward, they are in the Action Stage. Finally, once they have succeeded in quitting, but still need a check up once in a while, they are in the Maintenance Stage.

Faith is the same way.

A person in Precontemplation may not even be thinking about God. They don't believe, and see no reason why they should. God does not even cross into their mind even when they experience His presence through people and nature.

A person in Comtemplation thinks there is a possibility God exists, but there really is no way to know for sure. They continue on with their daily lives. sometimes thinking about the existence of God.

A person in the Preparation Stage thinks that God exists, but has not fully committed to trusting Him with everything. The thought of doing so scares this person, but they continue to seek answers. They may attend church or talk to people about their thoughts and opinions on God. They know they need fulfillment, but are not ready to take the plunge.

A person in the Action stage takes it to the next level and trusts everything to God. They believe in Him, trust that He knows what He's doing, and feel fulfilled. They are excited about this new found glory, and want to SHOUT IT OUT to everyone they know because they finally found what they've been searching for.

Finally, a person in the Maintenance Stage continues to live their life for God, but needs a check up once in a while. They pray everyday, do devotions, go to church, and seek to deepen their faith. Their passion for God has calmed down, and they no longer bombard their friends and family with long and excited prayers. God becomes a familiar part of their lives, like an old blanket or favorite pair of slippers. They may sometimes store this favorite item in the back of their closet, but not for long. They know the comfort is there, they just need to remember to actively SEEK IT OUT.

Just like with addictions, relapse is the rule, not the exception. It is easy to slip back down into old habits and actions. God, however, knows this, and just like with the Prodigal Son, will greet us again with open arms.

What do you think of this? Personally, I feel as though I've just had a "check up".

Because Everyone Loves Tag

2009-09-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

You've been tagged, so you are supposed to write a note with the 3's of YOU. At the end, choose 15 people (multiple of 3) to be tagged. You have to tag me, so you just need 14 more people. If I tagged you, it's because I am interested in learning more about YOU.

(To do this, copy this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, replace my answers with your 3's of Me, tag 15 people in the right hand corner of the app, then click publish.)

Those are the directions but once I got started I just kept taggin so I reached the limit so some ye may be cut off....my apologies....

Three names I go by:
1. Amanda
2. Navigator
3. Manda

Three jobs I have had in my life:
1. Addictions Counsellor
2. Specialized Services Aide
3. Camp Counsellor

Three places I have lived:

1. Canmore, AB
2. Calgary, AB
3. Edmonton, AB (I should get out of Alberta at some point)

Three Favorite Drinks
1. Dr. Pepper
2. Chocolate Milk
3. Sparkling Iced Tea with Raspberry

Three TV shows I watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Dragon's Den
3. Being Erica

Three places I have visited:
1. Halifax
2. PEI
3. British Columbia

People that text me regularly:
1. Laura
2. Erin
3. Other Erin

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Lobster
2. Crab
3. Candy/Chocolate :)

Three friends I think will respond:
1. Alcia
2. Erin
3. Sean

Three pets that I've had:
1. Sydnie
2. Pepsi
3. Pup

Three places I want to visit before I die:
1. Scotland
2. Australia
3. Greece

Hallliiiiffaaax

2009-08-28T10:25:00.001-07:00

Philip and I just returned from Halifax, where he won the National Skills Competition in carpentry. He built a playhouse in six hours, did a written theory exam, and a transit test. Pictures to come later.

Here is what I'm thinking: Most people are good. They won't steal your car, rob you blind, or steal your credit card. The people who do are the exception to the rule...and chances are they have a mental illness, have been abused, or have a lot going against them (poverty, crappy parents, etc...) Also, being able to trust others is important, just don't be stupid about it (i.e. Don't leave your keys in your car or your door unlocked).

Right now I'm missing school. I've been researching grad schools and getting excited about doing my masters.

Also, Fil is moving to Toronto this weekend, which means a lot of tears and chocolate.

I'm a Fan of Nice People

2009-08-07T09:52:00.001-07:00

This weekend I get to meet Bruce Bowie, and I'm very excited! To me he is an excellent example of a man who is a Christ Follower and in the public eye. He demonstrates he is a Christ Follower with his actions and compassion, but never shoves it down your throat or condemns those who aren't.

Go here to learn more about him. Hopefully that link actually works!

Pardon?

2009-08-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

I have an ear infection, which means I have a lot of pain and very little hearing. Philip finally convinced me to go to the doctor yesterday (which I hate), and he gave me two lovely prescriptions for anti-biotics.

Our friends are here this weekend with their cutie-petuti baby daughter. Thankfully she is not crawling yet, because our apartment is definitely not baby-proof.

Thought of the day: If you condemn homosexuality, how can you expect a person who is gay to come to your church?

Also, because of the folk festival, our town's population has doubled this weekend. I had to wait at a traffic light for more than one minute. Crazy.

Deadly Persuasion

2009-07-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

I am trying to change the background of my blog...but it is not going smoothly. '

I'm thinking you should check out what Jean Kilbourne has to say about advertising. She's hilarious and will get you thinking. I'm going to use her take on things when we run a Girl Power group in a few months. Go to www.jeankilbourne.com (I'm not fancy enough to be able to make that a link), and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qFENyemgk8

Hmmm...I wonder what this ad is for?

Stick it to the Man

2009-07-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

I came across a list of products that are owned by tobacco companies today. Holy cow! The list is from Georgina Lovell's book, You are the Target: Big Tobacco, Lies, Scams-Now the Truth.

Philip Morris’ Non-Tobacco Companies and Brands:

Miller Genuine Draft	Lowenbrau
Miller Lite	Red Dog
Miller High Life	Milwaukee’s Best

Kraft Food Brands (wholly owned by Philip Morris):

DAIRY:
Kraft Macaroni Cheese	Minute Tapioca
Velveeta cheese product	Athenos Cheese
Philadelphia Cream Cheese	Cheez Whiz
Knudsens	Cracker Barrel
Breyers	Sealtest
Kraft Parmesan	Breakstone’s
Kraft Singles	Light N Lively
Kraft Taste of Life

POST Cereals:
Alpha-Bits	Banana Nut Crunch
Grape Nuts	Pebbles
Raisin Bran	Toasties

RJR NABISCO (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco):

Oreo Cookies	Air Crisps
Chips Ahoy!	Wheat Thins
Snackwell’s	Nilla, Nutter Butter
Ritz Crackers	Stella D’Oro
Premium Saltines	Better Cheddars
Nabisco Honey Maid Grahams	Cheese Nips
Triscuit	Toastettes
Newtons	Barnum’s Animal Crackers

LIFESAVERS:
Life Savers	Bubble Yum
Breath Savers	Gummi Savers
Care*Free	Ice Breakers

MISCELLANEOUS:
Minute Rice	Cool Whip
Miracle Whip	Dream Whip
Jell-O	Claussen Pickles
Good Seasons	DiGiorno Italian Sauces
Sure Jell	Calumet Baking Powder
Certo	Shake ‘N Bake
Kool-Aid	Oven Fry
Seven Seas	Altoids
Country Time	Toblerone Chocolate
Taco Bell Home Originals	Stove Top Stuffing
Baker’s Chocolate and other Baking Products
Maxwell House Coffee	Capri Juice Drinks
Sanka	Crystal Light
Yuban Coffee	Bull’s Eye Barbecue Sauce
General Foods International Coffee
Tang

DELI:
Oscar Meyer Products
Louis Rich Products

PLANTERS NUTS etc.:

Roasted Peanuts, Cashews

The beer doesn't surprise me, but pretty much everything else does. Especially because I really like a lot of these things!

Being an ethical consumer is hard work. Everything adds up: Fair Trade food, clothing made ethically, and now companies that are owned by tobacco companies.

Worthy of a smile: Gap jeans are now made ethically in Canada...without a raise in price :)

Love Hurts, Baby

2009-07-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

Thought of the day: You cannot have a genuine relationship without conflict.

People (including myself) often shy away from conflict. We see it as a horrible thing that should never happen. If you ask me, however, a healthy amount of conflict is a necessity to have a genuine and authentic relationship. As for the "healthy amount" part, that's up to you.

Even therapy needs to have conflict. A good therapist will establish rapport with the client, and then challenge the client to face uncomfortable and painful truths. Of course all of this is rounded off with followup and a lot of kleenex.

Second thought of the day (I don't have many, obviously): Unconditional love. The beauty of my job is that I get to meet people wherever they are in life. I get to work with people who don't give a rat's ass about changing, and figure out how to best be their counsellor.

It's a long way down

2009-07-07T19:16:00.000-07:00

I love birthdays :) I like picking out presents for people (and getting presents), and the way everyone seems to be just a bit (or a lot) immature and silly on their birthday. Suddenly people have an excuse to sing, eat cake, play games, wear funny hats, and act like a little kid again. Of course, in my mind nothing bad is allowed to happen on your birthday either. If it does, you deserve a redo.

I had the most boring day at work today. My boss asked me if I wanted to poke my eyes out with a pencil. I'm in withdrawal from working with crazy kids. Come September though I will have plenty of crazy children to hang out with.

That's all for now. Toodleloo!

From Every Rooftop

2009-07-06T19:04:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus, I am returning to the world of blogging. You're probably wondering why I didn't just return to my old blog...the answer is simple and yet complicated. I am different, still me, but different. Instead of returning to the past, I decided to move forward. I'm a fan of change. Sometimes.

Also, I have many musings I feel the need to share. Such as this one:

What does it mean to be a Christ follower? For me the answer is found in the first chapter of Isaiah.

Say no to wrong.

Learn to do good. Work for justice.

Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless.

Go to bat for the defenseless. Isaiah 1:17

This is what I strive for. Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I fail miserably. Thankfully God is merciful and forgiving...otherwise I'd be royally screwed.