Pretty Moment of the Month

I have a friend...he is a boy...I hold his hand...I like him...and he likes me...and he makes me happy!

Need I say more...???

I would like you to meet Darcy...

Overcoming...

Here I am...God is good...I am alive and well!

It has been a while that I have felt this encouraged to share what God is doing in my life but its time to get it out.  This year has been one of those years that I turn a corner and when I am down, I am down and I get kicked lower.  It hasn't been a discouraging year but a year that I am thankful that I am not discouraged.

I have found in every moment that I feel that God is growing me, so when life is overwhelming to say the least, that I get kicked harder in those moments.  There has been many tears shed, heartbreaks, tough love, encouraging moments, and heart aches.  It almost sounds like I have been an emotional rollercoaster, but not really.  I feel like I have celebrated at the best of times, mourned at the worse, and yearn for God to fill me all in between.  I would lie in saying that these last few years...have been horrid...if you hear what has crossed my path...you will be amazed I am still standing...I am thankful that I am still here!

I know I have shared many things that have been happening, have happened in my life but the worse of all was an abusive relationship I was in.  I am not looking for sympathy, I don't blame myself or the other person in this, none of it.  It is something that has happened and I am aware of how God protected me.  But it has been something that is hard to overcome.  These last few weeks God has allowed me...to have the strength to overcome...that I know who I am...and not defined by people to be someone else, no one else can tell me to change, or to tell me any different of who God made me to be.

I celebrate God this week, as I feel that he is working in my life, preparing me for more to come, a new step and excitement.  God is good!  God is trustworthy...and I love that I can do all things in Him who gives me strength.

That is a wee bit of my personal side...I thank you for your prayers and for the hope that I have to be encouraged by one another. 

This last weekend I was amazed by our Youth...it was spectacular to see God at work and to see growth.  I had the opportunity to pray with a student....her life sounded like mine at her age...my heart breaks for the hurting but I know that God is working in these students lives...if they see it or not....God is preparing them...for what is yet to come!  Many of the Youth are being molded and shaped for what is to come...praying for change in this new generation!

be blessed...I know I am!

Do you see it? I have been told twice this week that we look alike...I guess I didn't post the best picture of me to see this....I will keep looking...

Mountain Day!

So, here it is...been awhile again since I have updated my blog, I am terrible at this...or just too busy for my own good!

Well, life has been a whirl wind these last few months, I read my last blog post and almost cried.  Since I have let my life to see what God is up to...I have managed to see Him bless me...and also grow me.

Life got hard.  The day that my brother and his family left for Kenya, I had the hardest time ever with them leaving.  Knowing what they were going back to, I was happy, them leaving with out me...I would have to say I mourned... I mourned the fact that I wasn't returning to Kenya.  The first time in a year and a half I was able to feel emotional about Kenya.  It was hard....I thought it was silly at first that I couldn't let my family go and then God let me see that my heart had changed.  Change that I was me again. 

At the same time...I changed jobs (I don't ever believe in doing one thing at a time) I am now working in Youth Ministries...I love the change and love being around the Youth....it makes me feel like a Youth...not a far stretch for me (I can hear some of you now) but it is fabulous.  If you knew what I was doing before I would say that Children's Ministries burnt me out...something thought I was on the verge of burn out....sadly to say I disguised it well and I was burnt out.  Leaving Children's was the best thing that I could ever do.

You think that was all???  Sadly...no!  My parents moved that same week.  You can see from the picture from the post below..that it isn't all out of the house... can't say more.

And if that wasn't enough...God thought He would test me with more...

September came in and out with no fireworks...who would've thunk.  Youth Ministries started off a ministry season...it was brilliant... Starbucks was still tons of fun!!  And life brought a wee bit of excitement!!!  Excitement...not all invited but it was fun while it lasted!! 

Looking forward...well November is almost here...I am going to try get on here more....and keep it updated (I say that every three months....but I am going to try to be on here weekly for those that love to keep in touch) I really enjoy my blog...so we will see...feel free to bug me if I haven't posted!

I have posted my picture below...this is today...in the Mountains...and surprise surprise...I am at Starbucks!  This is a good happy place...so throughly enjoying a beautiful day in the mountains...

All in the moment...September

A Day in Waterton....Red Rock Canyon

The view from above...or below!

All in the Moment...

So...in my wordless All in the Moment...I have to explain, today was moving day...this is what one room looks like still...with what is left in the house!

Introducing ...Pretty Moments

So you ever have those pretty amazing moments in life that you want to share with your friends? 

Well due to personal and safety reasons I have had to rename my blog.  My life has been a whirlwind the last few months but due to a crazy ex, that would be why my blog hasn't been updated as daily or weekly as I want it to be.  So that makes it exciting because in finding a name...I thought...God is pretty amazing and God provides some amazing moments in life.  So as life changes for me, I am happy to let you in on these moments that I am going to share with you now.  I am going to see God at work in my life weekly to share with you as it happens.

I am so excited to see how God is going to work, at home, at work and in my life.  The theme of our ministry year has been to Rise up...going forward God is going to Rise up within a nation, within our hearts and minds, and all around us.

Blog Day

Wow...you would think that this was the first time I was ever able to sit down in front of my computer...sadly..it isn't!

So some of you are probably wondering what is happening in Joelle's world...some of you are just curious what I am up to...sadly enough...life is normal for me!  Ok...some of you are sitting there falling out of your seats...rolling on the floor in laughter! or just seriously injured yourself! (disclaimer..I am not responsible for your injury)

So the last few months I have gone on a journey...a journey of figuring out what I want.  You would think that I would know exactly what I am looking for in life, the perfect job, where to live, what to do, and where to go.  I sadly enough loved the fact that I live for the day...each day is new and with that I am going to embrace that day and see what surprises and things can come my way. 

Then God tried to change that...he started putting things in my life that I had to plan, I had to make choices and I couldn't procrastinate.  And I started to see how God wasn't going to give up on that.  He started throwing at me everything and anything and said...whatcha going to do now?  I thought that the more I just said yep, and continued on my merry way these things would just be forgotten about and left behind.  God didn't want me to forget anything. 

I thought I was doing good, and perhaps my motives where selfish when I thought that I was doing things for myself, keeping busy, and avoiding life.  I started working a part time job, that kept me from planning, from thinking and wondering.  I had been offered several new positions at the church, and not sure how I felt about changing up things.  I didn't want change...I didn't need change...I was happy trudging along in life.

Do you ever wonder if making a change...is what God wants...and not what you want?

this was a question that I struggled with...when you see what God wants or don't see...don't you wonder what if?  So, something that made me stop dead in my tracks was God opened my eyes to a new concept in my life.  That perhaps you don't think you need change, but I think you need to trust ME and see what I have in store for you.  I sort of sat back and wondered... why if I love what I do and have a passion to serve in ministry would God change things up for me?  Well...things are a changing...if you want to hear more about the ministry I am moving to...send me a personal message!  I will post more later...

So as God continues to have me learn to trust Him, surrender, and to know that He is in control, that I can't avoid life as it happens, that I need to focus on what is there before me and when I am where I am...it isn't a mistake and it isn't the worse thing that can happen.  He has a plan...how I decided to be in that plan...is up to me and not to think avoiding it...selfishly...will get me further in life.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
   and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
   will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
   will clap their hands.  Isaiah 55:8-12

I heard this passage this morning at a funeral, for friends that lost their newborn baby, what faith can do as I have learnt over the last couple of years, is move mountains, heal the sick, and comfort the hurt.  God has ways and thoughts that we don't ever imagine but how and when we should never question.  He knows...

Today for me is a sad day, a day that I say see you soon to my brother and his family taking off back to Kenya to RVA.  I am happy for them but saddened to see my family that I have grown so close to leave.  In some ways I thought this would get easier...this time seems the hardest.  But I know that God's plans for their lives is different from my own and I can't change that...

So that is where I am at...where God wants me...at a peace....a surrender....a place of trust...and firmly standing with my Faith to know that God loves each and everyone of us and takes care of us too!!!

Big Day!!

Spring is where???

So, living in Calgary spring is the much anticipated season...looking forward to it...brings the hope and joy for much warmer weather!

Reality...on the Calendar...Spring is here...if you look outside...Spring to those in Calgary looks like...piles of snow everywhere, gravel still on the roads, cold temperatures, winter jackets, heat on in the car and house, and a high consideration...of where I can move to that Spring has already hit...and the snow is gone!

It is rather...bizarre!

This last week, I woke up on Monday morning to temperatures of -10 degrees...the good thing is that ...there wasn't much signs of life outside to be killed off by the cold snap...but a rude awakening...rude.

The most bizarre moments...are the street cleaners are coming out...we had a dump of snow last week, most areas got about a foot of snow...just in time for us to get the postings that street cleaners where coming in a few days...nothing says Spring...like Street Cleaning...with piles of snow everywhere!

While, I digress and think about last year...being on a beach in Mombasa...to a year later...being in the Mountains with mounds and mounds of snow...I really am not missing out!  I am blessed to see how God has been with me over the last year in the hard times, and in the good times.  To see that I have not only been on a rollercoaster but God has been in control of that rollercoaster.  I couldn't ask for a different life, I couldn't ask for different experiences, I don't see life and disappointments as a failure, but in ways that I turn to God and say 'bring it on' or what do you have for me next?  I am ready and willing...

I have said this numerous times ...time and again how I ultimately know that God is in control of my life, through the good times and bad, I am truly blessed.  I have learned lots, grown lots in God, and know that what does bring me down...makes me a stronger person in my relationship with God.  I know who I am, I know who I need to be, and I am happy in who God made me to be. 

So Spring is here, it may not look like it...but it is also a new season in life for me.  I am truly blessed to being privileged to having this time to step into what God has for me next!

may you all remember that God got you to where you are...and be thankful and blessed that He has taken the time to be with you in this journey and adventure of life.

Love Languages et al

So, as I was relaxing with my coffee this morning (some of the bunch of coffee that I brought back with me from Kenya) I came across these personality tests on Dr. Gary Chapman's website, I thought I would share.  For those that are curious to their love language and their apology language click on the links to find out what speaks to your heart the most.

The Languages of Apology

The Love Language Personality Profile

These are so helpful in who you are as a person, and how others can communicate with you, that is more meaningful. 

My results...were just as I suspected, which is pretty good.

My two top languages of Apology is Expressing Regret and Accepting Responsibility, a simple sorry is all I need, but being responsible for your actions, without proving to me that you need to do something in return...saves me from thinking you are an idiot, you can admit it yourself.  Sad but true...funny but not!

My top Love Language...hmmm...Quality Time, for those of you that know me...I am all about the time I get to spend with you!  If I can go watch TV with someone, have coffee, just talk, I feel loved.  If that is your gift...watch out...I do it well.  And Acts of Service, if you do something to help me out, or do work along side of me, that is something special, or even go and wash my car...its better than a pick up line.  One love language I despise, ok, I don't hate it, Words of Affirmation... I really don't need to be told I am appreciated because I am good at what I do, or be told because you are good at planning something, you should plan and organize something.  I love getting the idea and getting to run with it, not being expected to do something because that is what my gifting is.

So as I learn more about me...I want to share how you can learn more about yourselves, especially if you are frustrated that you can't figure out others or yourself. 

Things I wish I knew before I got Married!

So, just thought I would share these youtube videos of what I got to experience this weekend!  Just so you know...I didn't get married!  The conference I went to ....was fabulous!  This is just a little tidbit of what I learned...if you want more...check out the book!



Also, check out this one...the Five Languages of Apology



And, Kevin Lehman, was quite the colorful character, but this was a good speaker with some great points!  this is 1 of 4 clips...check them all out!



This is just a little of the Breakforth weekend I enjoyed...definitely had some amazing God moments!!!

Happy New Year!

Well it is only 9 days into the New Year and I have neglected to wish you all a Happy New Year! 

Happy New Year!!!

I hope you all had a great Christmas and Holiday season with your families!! 

I had the whirlwind of a time with family, here and on the Coast!  It was great to see everyone in my family this year!!

My first stop to see my brother and his family!  It was great to see the family there, so much to catch up on in such so little time, and so little sleep!  Let's just say, with children involved Christmas day began at 5 am when I was asked when  reasonable time was to get up, in my books reasonable would've been like 8 or 9 but knowing the kids I said 7 and turned over and went back to sleep!  Little did I know that 6 was the new 7.  And the day began!  As much as that was a blur...it was a great day!!

Then I was off to Vancouver to see the rest of the family, once I settled there...we were off!  It was instant boxing day shopping, and more parties to go to!  Don't worry, I did crash at some point during the weekend but it was well worth it.

The next big thing, was heading to Squamish to meet up with Jennine's friend, but someone that grew up across the street from us.  We had a great time, and even had someone ask us as we were in the grocery store if we were going to a party cause we were so dressed up...ha ha ha...city girls in a small town!!

The exciting part of the week was meeting my brother, Dean's girlfriend.  They had met on line and met for the first time themselves that week.  It was great to finally meet Tanya, and to see my brother happy!  The exciting news of the holidays, is that they are engaged to get married!!

So Happy New Year to you all!

May God bless you this year, in the expected and the unexpected things that He brings your way!