So I have been Thinking!

I am a dangerous thinker!  Yes, the power of thinking sometimes gets me over thinking but this is a good thinking!

I have been thinking about what life was like three months ago, to what life is like now.  I am thinking about my friends that I left behind, the friendships and the life that I made in Kenya to what I have now, important to know that I am not comparing the two but to know that God has blessed me and is continuing to bless me.  I have been thinking that I need to send out a prayer update of what I am doing and how life is going and all that good stuff!  I have been thinking...

Well, being home for the last 2 1/2 months has been a whirlwind, bizarre in some ways as I was looking to rest but funny how God knows what is best.  As some of you know, I am working already.  God knew what I needed and I got a job two weeks after I got home.  I am working at my home church as the Administration Ministry Assistant for Children's Ministry.  Check out our website here...www.cschurch.ca.  It is great, you ever feel that you have the most perfect fit for a job?  That is what I have here, I love it...it is like the best of both worlds, fun and excitement but also time for to be stretched serving God.  these last few weeks I have managed to be left in charge of our Children's Ministry area while the Pastor is on leave.  For those that think that oh well it is summer, it can't be too bad...ha...we are also going through renovation's that weren't planned!  I have been blessed!

Coming back into life here, I also have been open to where God wants me to serve in Ministry, while I have been somewhat pressured in areas to serve, I thought I was clear with God that I wasn't going to do the same old thing that I have been doing before I left Canada, fortunately things had changed in the Ministry that I was involved in that didn't make it possible to be in the same position, funny thing that things I was doing...they now have a paid staff doing!  So as I was seeking with God, He revealed to me a passion that I am eager to share.  My passion here for the church is in returning home I found that most of my friends are lost.  Not the kind of lost that they don't know where they are...nor is it that they don't know Jesus lost but they are lost in they don't know where to go.  I guess there is a lack of direction or purpose for them.  You see before I left there was an Adults group called Axis, a ministry in our church for 30 aged Adults and older, there was also a ministry for 35 and older and another one for 20 and older.  The church dissolved the 30's ministry and combined the groups of 20's and 30's to one...while the 35 and older was about 45 and older.  I came back to see lots of my friends have no place to go...as the 20's were too young for them and the 35's ...group was old.  My passion is that I want to get these people that have no where to go...a place to go...even if it is a small group meeting 20-30 small group.  Or if it is a time that we meet together, have a potluck...and prayer.  The more I was praying aobut this and getting excited that I found my place I wondered how I could get the staff at the church involved to support this.  Well, you know when God speaks...there is usually confirmation!  Well I had the pastor of the old adults approach me...and said 'Joelle, we need to do this and I think that you are the perfect person to get this to happen' the next was another staff member from the Young Adults group approach me and say 'Joelle, we would like to start this group...and you are what we need to get this to happen'.  I was amazed by the power of God but also in the fact that ideas of ministry are different for everyone, but God has given me passion in serving in the areas that He is a part of.

So, the last few months have been that of travels, and hiking, and relaxing, having family fun time, and all that is possible that I have missed out on.  One of the exciting things was trying Ethiopian food here...and they ran out of shiro...who runs out of shiro...isn't that the main staple???  It was funny and I thought I was in Africa again.  Silly times!  This last week my nieces and sister in law came home from Africa, it was great to be able to see them and spend time with them...they were cranky, emotional, and fun all at the same time.  It was really just a mixed bag of emotions and the lack of sleep was there but nothing like getting up at 6:30 Saturday morning to be joined in bed sandwiched between the nieces!

for those wondering how I am doing, I am doing really well!  I haven't just forgotten about things that have happened but I have come to a positive experience here that I feel like God has made me stronger in all that has happened.  There are things like the Aircraft Accident that I am thinking about the families this week, on Sunday it will be a year.  My life is forever changed by it, I am learning that from my experience in it I can't watch movies that have a plane crash, and recently learned that I can't watch the news if there was an airplane accident.  For those that aren't aware, I heard the plane overhead of the house when the engine cut out, and then also transcribed all the testimonies that came in, sometimes reliving something once is enough but I think I got to hear it over and over and over again.  I am still healing. 

I haven't moved out from the parents place yet, I am comfortable for now, I am looking at moving in October but unsure of that still, I will know more in September.  That is something I could use prayer about is that I am really wanting to live somewhere on my own but I also think that financially I will have to live with someone.  So for wisdom and discernment in where to go.  The situation I am looking at...is an interesting one...please pray!

Well that is life in a nut shell...feel free to drop me an email sometime, I would love to hear from you!

These are a few of my favourite things!

For those of you that really want to know what makes me tick...well somethings excite me and somethings don't.  I really can't explain the excitements of life...but I can show you but you know how somethings just get you giddy like a school girl??  Or make you light up with joy...well here are a few of my favourite things.

This here is the LARGE Truck in Sparwood, BC.  This is home to the world's largest truck and I get so excited to see this truck...I really don't know what it is but there are some brilliant memories here.  One of them is how I slipped and fell while I was under the truck, it was winter and I literally took a step behind one of the tires...and next thing I know...I was down, thinking well this is what it looks like under the truck.  Every Summer when I get to drive by the truck, I make sure that I get to stop and have some exciting times seeing Titan!

 

Susan and I trying not to look silly!

 

Titan, Susan and I

Some other things...are the Rocky Mountains...this was taken on our road trip back in May...while we were stuck in traffic for three and a half hours and only managed to go 13 km.  It was a moment that I told my parents not to get frustrated in...but to enjoy God's beauty!

and...my now famous Peanut Butter Pie

And I will sneak one in of me!  This is just tonight and just got home from the hairdressers...for some of you this may be a first to see my hair straight, for the record...this is the first time since last March 2009 that I have had it straight.

And now for what I don't like....

This is May 28, 2010...what it looks like in Canada...the lovely snow that I didn't miss!

I wish I had a picture!

So...funny story!

Ok, I just had to start out that way!

So interesting thing that happened to me this week, yesterday morning I woke up to find a rash on my neck, it just looked like a patch of hives, and I wondered what I ate that would cause it, I even tried to think if I had strawberries at one point during the weekend.

I got home from work yesterday to notice that it spread down to my chest area...and now it was getting itchy.  I quickly took some allergy medication and took a shower, thinking that there was something on my skin that is making me so quickly uncomfortable.

Now this morning...I wish I got a picture of my face.  I got up to jump in the shower, and I seriously looked at my face three times before I got in the shower, I glanced at it when I got up there...and then I thought...wow that really doesn't look good, looked again...and then went back to poke at my face that I could barely see out of my eyes it was that bad.

I decided to go to work...yes...it was crucial, it was the only day I was really in the office all week and I had tons to do!  As I loaded up on meds and advil to take the swelling down, most people didn't notice, it really only looked like I broke up with my boyfriend and I cried all night long episode.  Some people were scared to ask, and then my best friend noticed right away and we had a good laugh.

Secretly, I thought it was hilarious!  Until I did take the time to go to the doctor...and he was perplexed and shocked and surprised and put me on drugs that have taken the swelling down...even though I look like crap still.  So that is my funny weird experience of the week!

YIKES! 

Great Ideas...well...

Since I had a this great idea...ok actually I started a new job a week ago Monday and two days ago I found out that I was to make a pie for our Sunday School Picnic.  YIKES!  Ok, for those of you that know me I am a baker, I prefer cookies, muffins, and bread baking!  Pie...I have never done before.  To boot, this is a Pie Tasting Contest...judged by our Senior Pastor, and other pastoral staff (so people I work with).

So my first thought was to make a Blueberry Peach pie, since blueberries are out fresh right now and same with peaches.  Then the idea came to me to make Peanut Butter pie (but due to peanut allergies I wasn't allowed to).  But creatively I managed to make a Blueberry Peach pie and my mom had little tarts so I made peanut butter fudge tarts!

Here is the recipe (thanks to Candace for the idea) that I will share with everyone.

Peanut Butter Fudge Pie
1 pkg (8 oz) Cream Cheese Softened
1/4 cup Smooth Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Sugar
2 cups Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)
Chocolate Fudge

Graham Cracker/Oreo Crumb Crust

Whip the cream cheese and peanut butter and sugar together until well blended and fluffy.  Gentle Stir in the whipped topping, place in pie crust, add chocolate fudge sauce (cut through with knife) and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Try it out sometime...it is delicious!

All in a Week

Well as you can see I got a little distracted as I went into my blog and I changed things up...once again!  I tell you if you have never blogged before you are really missing out on the fun and entertainment of being able to choose a new design for your blog!  If you blog...don't be afraid to switch it up once in a while.

So for those that are curious to my week, it has been very quiet after the storm of the weekend of being around babies and more babies!

My weekend was spend celebrating the first year of my cousins triplets, Hailey, Shantal, and Kyra all had a fun butterfly birthday party, the crazy thing was that there was two other set of twins there and a bunch of other kids.  It was crazy time, but I have to say all the kids were relatively doing well.  It was great to see family again since being home.

I then made my way to a baby shower, celebrating the birth of Nathan James, just born a couple of weeks ago, I was blessed to have some snuggle time with him and I also tried to get him a little hyper, but it doesn't quite work the same on a newborn as it does children.

So, now you think that my week wasn't enough of babies...I then ventured off to visit Penny, who is eight months old in Okotoks and we had an instant bond.  It was a fun visit with her and her mom Lisa.

I guess this week I have taken advantage of the quietness before I get started into work next week, I have managed to get lots of the little things done that I needed to do.  I also started a detox this week, I know a little too much information, but I felt after being away this last year I needed to do a little extra to cleanse my body, just in case I brought some of the nasties home with me. 

So that is the story...no funnies this week

Ok...as I say that...I have a good one.  Sunday night I was at church, our pastor was speaking on how to find your life partner, yes an interesting sermon.  he made some really points and if you get a chance to listen to it online, you should.  Well that isn't the funny story, I know...distracted...you would think there was a shiny object in the room.  So as we were leaving church...there was a photocopier in the atrium.  Someone had to ask..."Why is there a photocopier just sitting here?" as a disclaimer...it was really out of the ordinary.  So, me and my mouth that somewhat acts in an uncontrolled manner says (oh and innocently)... "I think it is for photocopying your bum!".  Then I realized what I said...then I hoped no one heard me!  Then it was reinforced for me as everyone said...that's what I was thinking!!  If you don't think this is funny...guess you had to be there moment has come and passed!

Now I have a culture adjustment story for you...so this last year I would say I was pretty well taken care of, when you have the little men in the parking lot to help you back up and get out of tight spaces, the full service at gas stations so I didn't pump my own gas for the last year, and wide open markets with no doors.  I know three things that Canadian wonder...what???  Well this week I have had to fill my car up with petrol...ok gasoline!  First off...I had no clue what side of my car the gas tank was on...so after a few pull in and pull outs at the pump I managed to figure it out, then to actually figure out the gas pump...another duh moment while I stand there thinking.  I managed to get it figured it out but wow...it took a moment.

The other thing that was a little shocking was automatic doors are everywhere in Calgary.  I really didn't think it was a big deal until I have encountered a few doors that just don't open...I am left there standing thinking, really??  why me??  But any who, I managed not to freak out but it has been close to the moment of almost freaking out. 

Now when I park in a lot, I always wonder where the guys are to help me out.  I try my best to get through parking lots without the help, but beware if you are in Calgary, I am unsupervised in parking lots!


Have a great week all!

I killed a Gopher

I know it sounds dramatic for a blog title but what better way to get your attention as I give you an update of my life these last few weeks.

I guess I really did kill a gopher driving today which after living in Alberta for the last 11 years is quite the accomplishment for me.  This one sadly ran for my tires and that was the end of it and the truck behind me finished the poor dude off.  What excitement!

Well, as I have been settling in here, life really hasn't settled down.  I have only been in Calgary for a week and I have managed to see more friends then I have hands and toes to count them.  And there is still more...the funny thing is the numerous messages of  'does your phone not dial out here in Canada?' 'do you need to move back to Africa so we can chat?' so you can understand...there is only so many hours in the day...I won't be bored anytime soon.

In the time returning from BC I have been busy not only with reacquainting myself with life, church, and friends.  But I have also had a job interview, yes only one interview.  My goal 4 weeks ago of waiting to look for a job...seems that it was good wisdom at the time but surely I have learned that God's wisdom and plan for my life is usually way different.  As much as I was ok with not working God dropped a position in my lap.  I have now accepted a position to work at Centre Street Church as the Admin Assistant in Children's Ministry.  I start in just over a week and I am so looking forward to it.  For those that are concerned if this is the right decision, trust me there was lots of prayer and I am more than ready to get started again in the workforce.

I also just spend a few days in Lethbridge this week, got to catch up with some great friends.  I realized that I left there 9 years ago...wow how time flies.  I even ran into a coworker from 10 years ago who was just a sweet lady and told me how she was just talking about me last week.  I surprised Megan who has lived longer in Lethbridge by running into someone that knew me for a change. 

I almost was going to take a picture of the straight highway for my American friends who couldn't believe that I fell asleep on the highway once and woke up in time to find myself in the other lane.  I was asked by a little boy, isn't there curves in the highway?  I tried to explain that roads are really straight here in Canada and there is one stretch of highway that is super straight.  But sadly enough I couldn't reach into my trunk while driving, even by setting my cruise control and stretching back didn't work.

Another exciting part was my first Slurpee in  Canada, I have been looking forward to this day to stop in Claresholm, one of the busiest 711's in Alberta.  Yes..it was a highlight!!