Manu Delago Hang solo

Who knew banging on woks could be so beautiful!!! What a wonderful gift from God...I find this man's talent absolutely fascinating...What he is actually playing is a hang drum.

Fantastic 4 - Silver Surfer

Mysterious man of Intensity....Bring it on!

Me and My Shadow

My Mission Statement

Right now, I am reading a book that emphasizes finding your mission statement for life. Right from the get-go, I immediately determined that my mission statement could be summed up as follows: To walk with God and to encourage others.

As I work through the chapters and exercises, I am wondering if my mission statement envelops all that I am or could be in any given situation? So far, I am thinking that I can't add more to it...I love to encourage others, and I have this somewhat mysterious (to me) ability to promote others, even if they have slighted me - it usually doesn't change their ability/talent/gifting...and I can separate the person from the ability/talent/gifting. For example, they may have an ego larger than an elephant, but it doesn't change the fact that they are a phenomenal chef...and I promote and encourage their "chef-ing" abilities. Everyone has worth; Everyone has potential...this would be my motto of sorts...this is how I try to look at others, no matter who they are or what they do. I get great pleasure from seeing others blossom into becoming who they have been called to be!

Now, the walking with God part, and I emphasize with God, this is a little (okay...at times a lot) harder for me to do than I would like to admit. One of my favourite verses in the Bible is Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Italics mine.) ...walk humbly with your God...do not lag behind, do not run ahead (this I am prone to do...more often than not). Lagging behind and running ahead of God both land you in the same position in my experience...on your face! So, I am learning to walk with God. I find I am much more content when I do this, not burdened from lagging behind and not too tired from running ahead...being in sync with God is the "sweet spot" of existence for me...If I could just remain in sync more often...

Now, I did say that I was determining my mission statement...my goal is To walk with God and to encourage others ... I will work at this in every situation to honour what I have defined as my mission statement.

What is your mission statement for your life?

The book I am reading is "The Path - Creating Your Mission Statement For Work and For Life" by Laurie Beth Jones.

Albino Peacock...

This is just random...beauty comes in many colours...or no colour what-so-ever.

Sakura, sakura...

I lived in Hirakata-shi, Osaka-fu, Japan about 19 years ago (wow, it doesn't seem that long ago!) and while I was there, I met Keiko. Keiko and I are about the same age and we developed a great friendship. Her mom and dad became my adoptive parents while I was there; they are very dear to me. I keep in touch with the family and recently Keiko sent me some pictures of the cherry blossoms (sakura)...double cherry blossoms!

The cherry trees are absolutely fantastical when in bloom, even as the petals drop the world seems to take on a magical feel, like you have been transported to an entirely different world. The Japanese take time to admire and celebrate the Sakura with festivals, parties, and picnics. It is an absolutely delightful time.

Picnic in the park...

Osaka castle in the background...

Blossoms around the Imperial Palace moat....

There is a simple children's song that I learned and the lyrics are below....in Romanji and English

Sakura

sakura sakura ......................Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms
no-yama mo sato mo ..........On meadow-hills and dale,
mi-watasu kagiri .................As far as you can see.
kasumi ka kumo ka .............Is it a mist or clouds?
asahi ni niou ..........................Fragrant in the morning sun.
sakura sakura .......................Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
hana-zakari ...........................Flowers in full bloom.
sakura sakura .......................Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
yayoi no sora wa ...................Across the spring sky,
mi-watasu kagiri ...................As far as you can see.
kasumi ka kumo ka ...............Is it a mist or clouds?
nioi zo izuru ............................Fragrant in the air.
iza ya iza ya ............................Come now, come,
mi ni yukan ............................Let's look at last!

Single Petal Sakura

Being from the West, Japan is somewhat of a different world. A beautiful place to visit. While I was there, I traveled as far north as Tokyo and as far south as Okinawa. Perhaps I will get there again some day....

What do you hear?

I want to explore a little of the intimacy a person experiences with Christ. It is wonderful that He can be everything to anyone. What does that mean though? For some He is peace, comfort, a friend, a father, a protector, just to name a few...When a person calls out to Jesus, what do they hear back? Silence? Scripture? The beginnings of a conversation?

What do you hear when you call out to Jesus? When you are afraid, do you hear words of peace? Do you just feel peace? When you are joyful, do you hear Jesus laugh? When you are lonely, do you hear a love poem? What do you hear?


I hear all of the above at different times. Sometimes Yeshua speaks so softly, I don't hear Him right away. Sometimes I sit with God and He listens as I cry on his lap. (I have this bench I go to in my mind to meet Him there and pour out my heart or just speak about the day...) Some might think that doing these things is odd, and I am sure the general public would be surprised at how many Christians have experiences like these, but never hear about it because it is personal...intimate...they have a relationship with the Living God.


Everyone can have a relationship with God, no one is excluded. There is no magic involved. There are no secret words. We believe that Jesus is who He says He is. We believe - and we recognize that we need Him - we need Him to forgive our sins, to make us whole. We call out to Jesus and ask Him to be our God to fill us with His Holy Spirit...And He does. This is the beginning of a personal relationship with the Living God. And like any relationship, it requires work, listening, learning, sharing...it grows and develops and becomes intimate, personal, and wonderful!

What do you hear when you call out to Jesus Christ?



In case you want to explore this yourself and you have access to a Bible read John 3:16-18....If you have time, read all of the book of John! It explains a lot:) Otherwise, you can go to a Bible-believing church and speak to someone there. I would encourage you to do so!

Come Forth Thou Great and Mighty One

Come forth thou great and mighty one,

Through the hills we ride today.

The steeds are ready,
The warm sun rises,
A gentle breeze doth lead the way...
The fragrance of the fields fills the air,
And the birds in song do seem to say -


Come forth thou great and mighty one,
Through the hills we ride today.


Our Father calls you,
Your Sword is ready,
The battle now is on the way...
The stench of fear has no place my friend,
The coward will lose his life today -


Come forth thou great and mighty one,
Through the hills we ride today.


We will not waiver,
We will not retreat,
The right of Word is ours to say...
Be strong and courageous; stand firm to the end,
Victory is ours today!

A little view of our trip to Niagara Falls

Okay, so the trip to Niagara Falls was nice, we didn't win provincials, but the girls had fun - on the court and in the pool at the hotel (there needs to be sound absorbers in the pool room, my ears are still buzzing from the laughter and screams...).

My aunt came and took in a game with us and we visited the falls - and I forgot my camera! Jen got a few pics, she hasn't sent them to me yet though...Some of the pics I do have include the ones below...

Provincials....Go Power!!!

Sam seriously rethinking this Skywheel ride...oops...too late, you're stuck now... (the American falls are behind Sam...) The Skywheel gives a great view, 175 ft above Niagara Falls...

Overlooking Sir Adam Beck's hydro station on the Niagara river....

What I was so keenly observing...a view of the hydro station on the American side...

On to something more fun...waxing your hand at Ripley's....First pick a hand position (Sam went with the Spock greeting or the Nanu-nanu greeting...), dip it in cold water, and then in the white wax....

Then dip in the green wax...

Dip in cold water again to set the wax...

Once the wax hand was removed (it slid off with a little prying), it was filled with wax grains(?)...

Sealed with some hot wax on the bottom...and there you have it!

Sam with her hand!

Reena's final product....

I LOVE YOU!

My Girls...

I have two wonderful daughters that bring great joy to my heart...It has been quite a journey with them. When they were small there were times where I would think to myself, I need to remember this moment - like a kodak moment, ingrained on my mind forever...unfortunately, I don't have a photographic memory...so I am left with snippits of the past, like when Sammi would chase the girls (our chickens at the time - laying hens) and try to pick them up and hug them...after we collected their eggs...

I realize now that even though I don't have a photographic memory, the Lord blesses me with moments each day with my girls that warm my heart and sometimes leaves me laughing so hard I can't breathe...(The Brits are coming, the Brits are coming...where are the Brits from?...Britland!)

I sometimes get so wrapped up in my day and in my concerns, that I forget to embrace those moments with my girls that would not only fill my heart, but nourish theirs as well. It is so easy to ignore the hearts around you that need nourishment, especially when your heart is hungry...Ironically, it is when you feed others, that you get fed! How many times have I felt a hundred times better when I reach out to others even though I didn't feel like it?! I can be difficult, but it is do-able...and everybody benefits in the end!

I learn a lot from my girls. They are very intelligent, observant, thoughtful, funny, talented, and entirely lovable!!:) I am thankful for them and I will continue to try to create more 'kodak' memories with them as time goes by, for their benefit as much as for mine.

If any of you have kids, don't forget to nourish their hearts with love and attention, and your heart will also be nourished...

bring Peace to me

A word from above, a word from afar, a word to my love while I gaze at the stars;
Come near to me, come soon my king, come near to my heart with Peace you bring;
Bring peace I pray, bring peace to me, bring peace my love, bring Peace to me;
Do not tarry, I long for you, bring peace to my heart, a Peace from you;
How my heart cries out, bring peace my king, my soul longs for comfort, my soul longs to sing;
Bring peace I pray, bring peace to me, bring peace my love, bring Peace to me.

A Gentle Night

A beautiful word, a song of encouragement,
Warm eyes to gaze into, warmth from a love deep within,
Touch strong and gentle,
Knowing where, how, and when,
A breath deep,
Pine and fir, cedar and oak,
A cool breeze caresses, the stars shine bright,
The night is complete.

Come thou Fount - Gateway Worship

Choices...What will you choose???

Have you ever read one of those books where you begin the story and you decide how the story will continue, what decisions the characters make is up to you - you know...

"Jack and Leah went down to the pond on a cloudy day. When they got there Leah noticed a toy sailboat in the middle of the pond and wanted to swim out to get it. Jack wanted the sailboat too, but he was afraid of what might be swimming in the pond. Turn to page 4 if Jack convinces Leah to leave the boat and hike the trail to their favourite climbing tree instead. Turn to page 8 if Leah takes a plunge into the dark pond to retrieve the sailboat."


Remember those books? They were great, I loved them. They were always too short though!


Right now I am investigating alternate dimensions, parallel dimensions, the 10th dimension, etc. Great stuff, really...I don't have a background in physics, but then again, I am not convinced that you need one to explore these concepts (though it would help at times!). At this point, I believe that isolating one area of study (for example, physics, psychology, etc.) to undertake thoroughly researching, exploring, and understanding these concepts is short-sighted...entirely foolish to be blunt! I believe that in order to understand these concepts or theories, there needs to be a collaboration of many areas of study, everything from quantum physics to religion.


The idea that there are alternate realities based upon every decision that you could make in any given situation is quite overwhelming. Now, if you can, wrap your brain around this idea...let it soak....This could mean that there is a you at every level of existance from evil to good...ponder it...

To be cont'd...

Death Brings Life

"When God brings death to one area of life, he resurrects it in a new way. " Os Hillman said this in his devotional today (link below). I read Os's devotional daily and this comment spoke strongly to me today. It spoke encouragement into my heart this day.

The idea that though something comes to an end, something new will come along, stirs me to consider all the new adventures that are around the corner! Now that "death" has occurred or is occurring in one area of life or another, it is time to move on and look forward to what the Lord would have in store...Now, don't get me wrong, I believe it is healthy to reflect on what has passed and even go through a period of mourning, but I also believe that a person must set their sights forward and carry on...

A number of years ago a pastor once spoke about never settling for less than the best God has for you...God knows our heart, our desires, our needs, and He will provide! This requires patience...courage and strength too...We know "The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it."1 Thessalonians 5:23-25 (NIV)

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.John 12:23-25 (NIV)

Os Hillman - Today God Is First (TGIF) http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/marketplace/