Peace of Mind

I just had the best evening made up of sharing and forgiving! Have you ever done that and walked away feeling like you were floating? I won't go into details but for almost one full year I have been carrying this burden around that needed to be put to rest for good. And after 11 months, I finally have realized that I needed to extend GRACE to someone and have a heart to heart discussion. After much idle chit chat we got down to the nitty gritty of our disagreements. We talked about would-of; could-of; should-of kind of discussion and after some laughter, tears and heart-to-heart understanding, I felt a peace about me. I felt the presence of God and knew that I had bared my soul and am now at peace. I hope that I had that kind of impact on my fellow listener. My prayer is now that God continue to give me strength, guidance but most of all peace in my surroundings. May God continue to be with Jack and I as we get stronger in being one. No matter what is thrown our way, we will always be together as one.

Easter Celebrations

This Easter Jack and I decided that we wanted to bring some real meaning to what Easter is all about so we decided to attend a few events around the city. We took in the Passion play at Foothills Alliance on Friday and what an amazing production. The room was packed with over 500 folks who obviously wanted the same thing - a picture to what Jesus went through many years ago. Then on Sunday we went over to First Alliance and took in there Easter Service. Again more people - somehow people are needing to hear the word of God whether they come out every week or just on special occasions. The words that were spoken meant so much and seeing it acted out put things in perspective. Christ lives in everyone of us if we just look around and see the beauty of what has been laid out. I know that I must continue to read and look for my journey to continue.
We also celebrated Easter with 2 families...Jaelyn, Rob & the girls had pre-Easter here with us on Saturday. We even managed to have a little Easter egg hunt for them. It is amazing to watch these little girls grow and change everytime we see them. They are becoming very interactive with everything that you do with them.
Then on Sunday, Breanne & Marc hosted there first dinner for his family and ours. It was a true pleasure to see your children grown and taking on responsibilities that you have coached them to do. I felt great pride seeing the table set with name cards and festive chocolates laid out.
So all in all I have to say that it was a great weekend filled with hope, reverence, family and most of peace of belonging to a community of faith.

My Christian Walk.......

I have been struggling lately with my faith. I know many people have experienced this during their lifetime but I have never felt it so present as this past couple of years. When I go to church I feel disconnected and that God isn't in the centre of my world. I feel that people are just going through the motions (including myself) to just be at a place to do the same thing and sing the same number of songs, week after week. My journey has me feeling like I need more out of life and that if I don't get it I won't want to worship again. Tonight Jack and I went to First Alliance and that tingling feeling that I once had came back to me. The service tonight reminded me of the Catholic service on Palm Sunday leading into Holy week, just prior to Good Friday. The songs and the 100's of people that were moved by the scripture tonight made me feel alive again. I felt God's presence and remembered why I pray to him and want to read more. Now I'm not an avid reader like my dear husband. He has hundred's of books on all kinds of topics which is way different then me. However, he gave me a book that he had and it has "me" written all over it. Actually, it has any women that is going 100 miles per hour, trying to multi task 4 things at once, this book is for you. The title is Breathe, Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life. When I started to read the first chapter and it was all about being busy and running as fast as we can...it was eerie as that is exactly what one of my blogs was about a couple weeks ago. Then when I read the next topic "A Healthy Soul" which talks about feeding your spirit; and how is the health of your soul? Then some more questions, "Do you feed your spirit good things? Do you exercise the part of you that is most truly and deeply you? Are you deeply satisfied with your spiritual life? Do you feel a sense of peace and Gods' presence most of the time? Once in a while? Ever? I couldn't believe it, that this chapter was talking to me about all the things that I am feeling.
Jack and I have talked at great lengths about each of our spiritual journeys and how different we both are. But are we really? I think that sometimes I see myself as being in an infant stage that it scares me and then at other times I see so much knowledge that I have to laugh to think that I got it without even getting it. Jack and I have committed to both of us reading, researching, reaching out to find out more about where we are going on our spiritual journey. We have to inform ourselves; test one another as to where we are; pray together to keep us connected. But most of all we have to hear God's word such as Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest" (Matt. 11:28) He offers rest for the weary, true spiritual rest that refreshes us and connects us with him. God meets us in our weariness and our place of weakness. And I truly believe that the only way that I will get healthier is to take time to heal and be less involved; less running in so many different directions but most of all become closer to God by reading and understanding where I am to go. God has a plan for all of us and now it's my job to figure out what that plan is. I think that together with Jack that we can both embark on this journey to fulfill our lives spiritually,mentally and physically. I also believe that we will become better people and hopefully I pray that I will get my passion and faith back.

Life in the Fast Lane

My life seems to be moving along at thunder speed these days and I'm trying to get out of the fast lane to just get caught up. Have you ever had one of those weeks or several all in a row? Between all the wedding planning that I have been helping the girls do, and Jack having had surgery, recovery and more recovery I finally felt run over this past weekend. We were given the first year of the show 24 and put it off until this past weekend to watch it, or should I say slow down to watch it. If anyone knows the dvd series it is 6 dvd's with 4 hours per dvd. Well we started to watch it on Saturday afternoon and then continued through Sunday into Sunday evening, but the best part was that I actually took the time to relax (pj's on) - hair not done - no makeup, but actually sat curled up with my husband and truly got into this series. This is not something that I would normally do but I truly was exhausted from trying to keep up with being a mother & nurse for so long lately. I even felt rejuvenated last night and today at work I had a lot more energy.
Jack will be going back to the surgeon on Wednesday and hopefully it will be good news and that he won't have to have anymore surgery or complications.
The wedding planning is coming along and we now have 2 dresses bought - with one here for delivery this week and another on order for delivery in September. I forgot how much planning goes into a wedding just to make the day spectacular. I'm sure that things will go well and that both girls will be happy in the end.
Okay now it's time to get back on the computer to look at some wedding cakes with Nicole and then get on a wedding favor site for Breanne so she can narrow down her decisions as well. Until next time, if you need me I'll be in the middle lane trying not to get run over!

Update and more Updates

Wow, have you ever had one of those weeks where everything happened all at once! Jack is finally home recovering from his surgery and moving around very slowly. He won't be up running any marathon too soon. But he is at least home.
Then last night both my girls were over to talk about weddings and we now have the official version that Breanne & Marc will tie the knot next March 2010 and Nicole & Cecil will get married this coming October 2009. Both have lots to work out with all the details but now there are no more secrets to not tell one of them. I will have a very busy couple of months ahead but my secret job (other than being a nurse to my husband)is to be a wedding planner and I have had lots of practice with other brides on their special day. What an exciting time for everyone involved! Jack and I are looking forward to helping with making their wishes come true on each of their own special day. Wish us luck and oh, I hope to win the lottery as well!

Jack's Latest Surgery

I won't be posting much tonight, other than to say that surgery went well for Jack and that he is resting comfortably tonight. Jack will spend a couple days in the hospital and then be home to recuperate for the next couple of weeks..so he will have plenty of time to blog and tell you all the details...thank you to all that sent prayers and well wishes - we appreciate all of you for who you are.

My Special Secret Announcement

I can now fully tell my secret which is that I will soon be gaining a wonderful son-in-law. As of this morning, far up on a gondola, overlooking Sunshine mountain, my daughter, Breanne had her boyfriend (Marc) got down on one knee and proposed marriage to her. This is so exciting as Jack and I have been fully involved in this very romantic engagement for just over a week now. Marc came by the house asking me for Breanne's hand in marriage; to having me secure hockey tickets to the Montreal vs. Calgary game last night. This is where the original proposal was to take place as Marc is originally from Montreal so we thought that this would so romantic. Then Marc enquired about getting the proposal on the jumbo tv but the cost was $5,000 - so it was that or an engagement ring and being a smart man, he chose to keep the money for a ring (he's learning). So that precipitated him to take her to Banff, stay at the Banff Springs hotel, go skiing and propose up there. What he wasn't looking for was his favorite hockey team losing (quite badly); his car getting stuck in the ditch just outside of Canmore (it's still there); leaving his confirmation number in the car for his paid ski package (good for concierge folks to phone the booking travel agent to get this confirmed for being a paid client) and then having Breanne get sick on the bus ride to the top of the ski hill. Needless to say this will be quite the story to write in their wedding book on "how we got engaged". Another little surprise for both of them is that Jack got a banner made up that asks the question: Bre, will you marry me..which was to be used at the hockey game but when that plan didn't work, Jack and I decided to go and pin the sign up at there place so that they will always have another special memento of this occasion. But I'm just relieved to say the least that this secret stayed safe and that we will have a very special occasion in the very near future. Jack and I feel truly blessed with such wonderful times ahead of us.