Saying Good-bye

Do you ever get so attached to a movie or a series that you actually feel like the characters are real? Well, that has happened to me. I know I have talked about the Robin Hood BBC series before, but on Saturday I watched the last episode of series 3. Without giving away any "spoilers", I will say this - I was literally sobbing throughout the whole thing!! Seriously, NEVER has a show affected me as much as this one has...and I am not exactly sure why? Perhaps because the characters are so funny and down-to-earth, the plot is always changing, the good guys always win (well, almost!)??? In talking with a bunch of people, the show has affected them the same way...hmmmmmmmmm.

The writers of the show have made me angry at times for some of the choices they made throughout the series, but altogether they did a GREAT job with getting you attached to the story and characters - perhaps TOO attached!

I seriously doubt there will be a series 4, and for some obvious reasons (if you watched series 2, you'll know why!) series 3 wasn't as good. But I still was attached...and a "basket case" at the end.

So I now have to say good-bye to this series. Although I'll no doubt watch the older episodes over and over, its sad to think there will be nothing new to look forward to! Oh well! I am sure it won't take me too long to get attached to another series. The final season of Monk will be on in August, and there is always 24 that my brother, Andy, wants me to start watching. I doubt I will be "in mourning" for Robin Hood forever! :) But its been fun while it lasted!!

Brain on Overload

As the school year was coming to a close, the realization started to hit me - There were no potential Kindergarten students for next school year. At first, I though, Okay, good..that means I can help out in the Elementary classes more and continue being my 7 Kindergarten graduates' teacher. This was sounding like a good plan to me!! Then it was brought to my attention....what if they say, because there is no Kindergarten, I really wasn't needed full-time at the school??!! That thought frightened me a bit...NOW what was I going to do?

Around this time I was getting a bit discouraged. Now, don't get me wrong - I LOVE children, I LOVE being around children, I LOVE teaching children - but I was starting to feel like I was around children 24/7 and never got to be around adults my own age. I was always with kids!! (Yes, I know....all you mothers are just smiling and thinking...just you wait!!!) But I really was ready to do something new, spread my wings a little, learn a new profession. However, I didn't know what that new profession was going to be!

A couple of days after these contemplations, an opportunity basically just fell in my lap. My friend, Sarah, was heading off to college in the fall, and needed someone to take over her accounting position at a small contracting business. Would I be interested in working part-time there? I have taken an accounting course both in high school and in college, and so I am *slightly* familar with how things are done in the Accounting world. With my love for numbers, even-ness, balancing, organizing... accounting has definite possiblilties for being "my thing." :) So, of course, I leaped at the opportunity! This seemed to be the answer to my "unspoken prayer" of stepping out and learning something new.

Shortly, after this opportunity was presented to me, yet another one was brought to my attention. Sarah is also the Accountant at Challenge Press/Book Heaven (our church's book publishing company and bookstore). Would I be interested in taking over her position?

Wow.

So I went from being a Kindergarten teacher to an Accountant/Secretary-in-training practically overnight!

This past week I was introduced to some of the things that are involved in these two accounting jobs. Talk about a brain being on overload!!! Sarah is doing a GREAT job training me in all the different areas, and is always extremely patient when I have those *clueless* moments! However, there is soooooo much to take in! Obviously, my mind hasn't been centered around all the things I learned in Accounting 4 or 5 years ago, so I have had to dig deep in the recesses of my mind to remember what Accounting is all about!

I just have to keep saying...One thing at a time, one thing at a time, one thing at a time! Thankfully, I still have the whole month of July and August to be "in-training" for all this.

Once I was done with my Accounting course in college, I tried so hard to get cash back for my textbook. However, they weren't taking this edition back....hmmmmmmm. I actually pulled it out this week and started looking through it again...refreshing my memory of all those Accounting terms..aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! :P

My brain has been on overload all week long.

However, do you know what the BEST thing is for an overloaded brain?????

One of these babies.....

I've had two this week.

They are great! :)

More Camp Highlights

Yeah, I promised that I would give other details about camp later, so here it goes. :) I could probably write a whole book about it...but I won't! As I sit here thinking about all that happened last week at camp, I can't believe that a week ago at this time we were getting ready to hear some preaching. Time sure flies by quickly!

Like I said previously, it was my first time going as a counsellor. Also, its been years since I have gone to a summer camp - period - so lots of things have changed since then! I went to this camp with some fears because I wasn't sure what all was going to be required of me. See, I don't like stepping out into the "unknown" so this was a bit out of my comfort zone! Both my brother and sister had great delight in telling me all the "camp horror stories" so, of course, my imagination was swirling! :)

However, I soon got in the swing of things, and ended up having a blast! There were definitely a few stressful moments, especially trying to think up team cheers, figuring out our skit, and dealing with mice in the cabin, but altogether I had a great time.

One of the highlights of the week for me was going canoeing for the first time on the beautiful lake. On Thursday, after the skits were over, we were given a few hours of free time, and so Rachel and I canoed around the lake for awhile. It was sooooooo relaxing! I was worried about the whole steering thing, but it didn't take me too long to figure it out. Thankfully, we didn't capsize or anything :) I am DEFINITELY up for another canoeing experience!!

Another highlight of the week was going on the zip line. Yes, this is shocking even for me, but it really was fun! I had gone to camp determined NOT to go on the zip line because I had fallen off one before. However, the girls on my team coaxed me into it. I went up the tower steps with rather shaky legs, and leaning into the harness as I dangled over the lake - putting my trust in what felt like a piece of string to hold my weight - was indeed a heart-thumping experience! However, once I pushed off, and zipped on down across the lake with the wind in my face, all my fears went away. It was such a neat experience! Thankfully, the landing wasn't too painful this time. :)

So altogether, I had a great week being a counsellor. I got to know some of the teen girls from my church better, and even made some new friends from the other churches.

Here are some pictures that I took during the week. If you have me as a friend on facebook, I would suggest looking at them over there because they are more fun to view with captions. :) If not, well, have fun viewing this slide show!

Summer Camp Message Highlights

Well, I am back! I survived my first summer camp as a counsellor. :) What a week!

We got back late last night, and of course, my sister and I were chattering non-stop about all the fun and wild things that happened during the week. However, when asked about the messages, I really had to stop and think a minute about what the messages were about. I remembered the general thoughts, but the details were already starting to get a little fuzzy (which is why you take sermon notes!)

So I have my handy-dandy sermon notebook out, and I am going to give you the message highlights of the week. In my next blog entry, I'll give you all the other details. :)

Monday PM -

Bro. Sam Robinson preached on I Samuel 16, when Samuel was choosing the next king of Israel. His focus was primarily on Eliab and how he looked good on the outside, but the inside was not right. He then went on to say how teens growing up in a Christian home tend to look good on the outside. They know what is expected of them, and how they should look, but they could get so caught up in looking good on the outside, that the inside is neglected.

Incorrect perception - What looks good on the outside must reflect what is on the inside.

Important principle - Standards are not an issue of command, but an issue of the HEART.

God wants truth on the inside! - Proverbs 4:23

Let God work on the inside -
- Ask God to know your heart.
- Search me and try me and see if there be any wicked way in me.

Tuesday AM

Chris Gable preached on Mark 9, about the man who had a son with a demonic spirit. His message was about God's single most important requirement to enlisting in His army - Surrendering.

The Boy's Problem
- Painful
- Permanent

The Man's Problem
- Deflecting plea (The father blamed others for his son's condition.)
- Doubting plea ("but if thou canst do any thing...")
- Desperate plea ("Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief")

Salvation begins when we finish! There is nothing we can do. We can't keep holding on to our own good works and ideas. We need to let go and accept God's salvation.

Tuesday PM

Bro. Robinson preached on lessons from the life of Joseph.

"We spend our years as a tale that is told."

A Life with Unfair Circumstances -
- hated by his brothers
- hurt by his brothers

A Life with Undesirable Setbacks -
- falsely accused
- fiercely arrested
- forgotten and alone

A Life with Unwavering Shelter -
- Life's not always easy, but God is always there.
- God is in control and Satan's on a leash.

An Unbitter Servant -
- Don't let circumstances dictate who you will become!!

Wednesday AM

Bro. Kenny preached a message about us being in a spiritual "boot camp".

- We need to be skilled in the Word of God.
- We need to learn how to pray.
- We need to learn to communicate with God.
- We want to have our drill instructor close because we are in a battle.
- The more skills we have, the more strength we will have in the battle we are facing.

- I am not strong enough to overcome it.
- We are in a spiritual battle, therefore we need spiritual help.
- When I try overcoming in my own power and strength, it is like putting myself on the front lines with no defense.

I John 4:4 - We can be overcomers by allowing He that is in us to be stronger than he that is in the world.

Don't expect to overcome sin if you are not strengthening the inner man.

God prepared Moses for 40 years before He used him.

Am I preparable?

Wednesday PM

Bro. Robinson preached on John the Baptist. He opened the message up with this question, Do you want to be great?

Greatness - superior in character and quality

What did not make John the Baptist great:
- Faithful parents
- Favored posterity
- Famed popularity

What made John the Baptist great:
- Power (being filled with the Holy Spirit)
- Purity
- Patience (Wait on the Lord!)
- Proclamation (He realized who the Lord was)
- Promotion

Thursday AM

Pastor Gable preached on Becoming Conduct versus Unbecoming Conduct of a soldier of Christ.

Extent of Conduct Unbecoming -
disobedience, discord, disrespect
disgrace, dishonesty, disinterest
disorderliness, disruption, desertion

We are in a battle - What I want to do versus what I ought to do. (Paul in Romans 7)

Examples of Conduct Unbecoming -
Sovereign - David with Bathsheba (started small - a thought)
Soldier - Saul & Israelites vs. Philistines (started small - a fear)
Servant - Ziba, servant of Mephibosheth (started small - a word)

Exhortation of Conduct Becoming
- Readiness
- Steadfastness
- Alertness

Thursday PM

Bro. Robinson preached on Samuel, and his exhortation to us was to live without regret as Samuel did.

"Life is not a chalkboard where we can erase and start over."

We sow in the flesh and then pray for crop failure.

If you want to live without regret, you must learn to respond the first time God speaks to you.
- Salvation
- Surrender
- Sanctification/Seperation
- Service

If you put confidence in the flesh, you will not run from the flesh.

I am not immuned from temptation.
- Run from sinful deeds.
- Run from sinful dialogue.
- Run from sinful destinations.

Refuse to compromise for your friends.

Remain in the service of the Lord.

Friday AM

For the last message of camp, Bro. Robinson preached on Peter and how he had denied Christ after arrogantly stating he would never do such a thing. Now that everyone had made fresh decisions for Christ, we can't leave camp thinking that we will never fall again into the same sins.

We are bound to fall the moment we are arrogant to believe we can't fall!
When you get arrogant, you are going to act.

Even when we fail the Lord, there is an afterwards. After Peter denied Christ 3 times, he was given a new chance to serve the Lord.

Off to Camp....

After posting something every day for the past week or so, I will now be having a week "vacation" from my blog. I am heading off to teen summer camp with my church. This will be my first time going as a counsellor, so it should be rather interesting. The theme this year is "I'm in the Lord's Army now". Indeed, we are in a battle and the devil really wants to gain control of these teens' lives (and the counsellors!!). I am definitely looking forward to the preaching! The activities and games....well....I am hoping I get "counsellor privileges" and can just watch and take pictures. ;-) Well, we shall see!

So I will be reporting back here later to let you all know what happened this week. Please pray for us that the Lord will be able to work in a strong and mighty way!!

Last one, I promise!

It was a rare and special treat for Christy to be able to run around and explore "freely". We were always rather cautious with Christy because we weren't sure if she would just take off and not return! She definitely had a mind of her own! There was the one time she escaped out of the house and ran in the middle of our busy main street causing cars to slam on their brakes....

And, yes, you'll probably notice my arm is in a sling in this video. This was shortly after I injured my shoulder. Ahhhh, the memories! :)

Thanks to all who have endured my reminiscing moments these past two weeks! I shall now move on to new things :) I am sure seeing videos of a dog is getting quite old for some of you....

Snow & Giggles

This was Christy's first time out in the snow. Of course, it was all new and exciting to her. We found her enjoyment rather amusing! Seriously, the giggles are out of control in this video! (I won't mention WHO the main giggler was...but his name starts with an A) I wonder if the thought, What kind of family did I get myself into? didn't roll through Christy's head at times such as these. :)

Hiccups & Training 101

Christy has the hiccups in this video :)

Andy was trying to teach Christy to fetch in this next video. However, he would throw the toy and the treat at the same time. Of course, Christy would only go after the treat and not the toy! I don't think we ever successfully taught our dog to "fetch!" which is indeed sad seeing how she was, after all, a golden retriever. Hmmmm...

Of Fashion Statements & Picky Dogs

I cringe every time I watch this video. Not only the big plastic glasses look, but apparently, white stockings, culottes and sweatshirts were also "in fashion" in 1998. No, wait a minute. What am I saying?! I was never "in fashion" as a young teen! :) I look back at pictures of myself around this age and wonder, What was I thinking??? Oh, well....there is more to life than staying "in fashion"....right? ;-)

Okay, back to the main purpose of this video :) Christy is 4 months old and is getting sooo big! Its amazing to see the difference between 3 and 4 months of age! She was always an extremely picky dog when it came to her treats. Normally, dogs eat ANYTHING and everything...but not her! She would sniff at a dog treat, and then push it away with her nose if she didn't want it. She only liked her "beggin' strips" and "snausages" :)....not the hard dog biscuits.

Barks, Buddies & Belly Rubs

The Best of Friends - The Worst of Enemies

I am not sure who is cuter in this video - my 3 year old sister, Alayna, or my 2 month old puppy, Christy!

Sleepy Puppy

Christy always fell asleep in the strangest places and positions! This time we caught her underneath our kitchen cart, looking rather comfy. :)

This ended up being her favorite position to sleep in her whole life!

From Water Rat to Fluff Ball

I know I have been posting a lot about my dog, Christy. It's just been fun to go through the home videos and the pictures, remembering all the fun times my family had with her. So consider this your "warning." I still have about 5 or 6 videos to post on my blog over the next week of Christy's first year. After all these blog entries, I may have to change the title of my blog to "Treasured Tales: A Glimpse of a Dog Lover's Heart"! Well, if you ever lost a pet, you would understand what I am feeling. :) It may have been 2 years already, but you don't get over something like losing a dog that easily. At least I don't....

Here are 2 more videos of Christy when we first got her. In the first video, she is enduring her first bath. She was indeed an odd dog. You see all these pictures of golden retrievers swimming in water, but not Christy. She absolutely HATED water her whole life.

After her bath was over, she turned into a fluff ball! She then had fun playing with her towel. Now, I must apologize for the "zoomed in" look in this next video. This was one of my first times using our video camera, and I didn't realize that I was able to zoom out! So for much of this video, you will only see parts of Christy as she is playing with her towel.

Also, while I was recording this video on my camera, Alayna was in the room with me watching it. She kept laughing when she heard me on the video, which, in turn, caused me to laugh at myself. After several attempts, this is the best I could do! You will notice at one point, the camera becoming rather shaky and you will hear a short "snort" of sorts as I am trying not to laugh at myself. :) I was rather amusing as a 12 year old!

Forever in Our Hearts

Christy

June 11, 1998 - June 8, 2007

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Promotion Sunday

Today in Sunday school, 4 of my students moved up to the 4's and 5's Sunday school class. It was my first official Promotion Sunday because last year I started teaching the 2's and 3's class the week after Promotion Sunday.

It was a bittersweet moment. In just one year, I have seen these children's language and social skills develop so much! It is absolutely amazing what one year can do! That is what is especially hard about Promotion Sunday. You FINALLY get them to where you want them to be, and then they move on. :) *sigh* Such is life! I'll miss them for sure, but at least they'll be right next door for two more years!

The promoted ones :) - Aidan, Leah, Isaac, Grace

Earlier this year, my Sunday School class was overflowing with children, so we actually had an "early promotion" in March. This picture includes all 7 of the children that have been promoted to the 4's and 5's class.

Left to Right: Elijah, Ethan, Juliana, Grace, Teacher :), Isaac, Aidan, Leah

Happy Birthday, Dad!

It's my Daddy's birthday today. As I sit here trying to form the words of how much my Daddy means to me, I am finding words just aren't enough! I love him so much! Its such a blessing to be able to honestly say that my Dad and Mom are truly my best friends. I can just walk in the room and my Dad or Mom can just tell if something is not right just by looking at my face. I love talking to my Dad, and as I continue to get older, I find out we are more and more alike. :) Or as my Mom would say, "You guys are two peas in a pod!"

One day when my Mom and I were talking about the future and what type of guy I would like to marry, I told her, "I want a man just like my Daddy!"

The Patch the Pirate song that comes to mind is - "I want to marry Daddy when I grow up..." Well, obviously THAT can't happen :) but its the whole principle behind that song that matters!

So I said before that words aren't enough, so here are two pictures of my Daddy and me. Pictures are worth 1,000 words, you know, so this covers about 2,000 words I can't express right now!

P.S. One thing my Dad pointed out this morning is that he is an EVEN number this year. He knew that would make me happy! :)

She Likes Me!

Especially in the earlier days, Christy was adjusting to a new house, a new family and a new bed. My poor Mom actually spent a few nights sleeping out by her crate to help her adjust. In the mornings, I would take her outside so she could "do her duty". The one morning, I am not sure how it happened, but my lil' exhausted pup decided to take a snooze on my foot. Notice my whispered declaration about this matter. :)

Cute and Cuddly

Our New Puppy

On August 1, 1998, Alayna's 3rd birthday, we travelled to the farm to pick up our new little ball of fur. My grandparents lived near the farm, so we stayed there for the day. We had fun playing with our new puppy in their backyard!

In Loving Memory...

As we quickly approach the 2nd anniversary since Christy, my precious golden retriever, died, I wanted to do something special on my blog to remember her. For the first year of her life, we took a bunch of home videos. I thought it would be neat for the next couple of days to post parts of the videos on here. It won't be the best of quality since I am just holding up my camera to the TV as the video is playing, but you'll get the general idea. :)

Although its been 2 years, I still miss my dog very, very much and watching these videos brings tears to my eyes. I was only 12 when we got her, so my earlier memories of her are dim, which is why I am glad we caught some special moments on camera!

This is a video of the first time we visited her at the farm. She was only 2 weeks old! We didn't know which one was going to be Christy at the time, but later on we figured out that Mom was holding her in this video. I was holding her sister. :)

Just so you know, there is no sound on this video. For some reason our video camera didn't have sound that day. Don't worry. Your hearing is not going!

Stay tuned for more Christy videos in the upcoming days!