the crew

Amy, silly girl

Kozak Kutsie Kouple

just 34 days 'till we fly!

gobble gobble

Well we did it! Chad & I pulled off our first turkey dinner! Chad had picked up a turkey for $.80 lb last time he was in the great USA, so we decided how better to cook it up than have a pile of our friends in to eat it up with us! There were a few debates "But my Mom does it this way..." kinda things as Chad and I prepared but generally I'd say it was a great mix. Chad cooked the turkey with bacon and spices, onions and things, yummy! I made Mom's dressing which everyone ranted and raved over, guess they don't have dressing with potatoes and apples very often in these parts. We cheated with the pies and picked up Pecan (one of my favorites) and Apple Crumble from the market, but I figured that was ok if we put all the effort into the meal! I'd say it was a raving success! We laughed so hard most of us had tears running down our cheeks and sore belly's at least at one point in the evening. It's so nice to have a bunch of friends get together and just laugh and have fun. Good friends are so great! Unfortunatly we were having such a great time we forgot to take any pictures :(

More Wedding Pics!

Mom's birthday (Cake: PG 13 Warning)

Well along with this year's Easter festivities, Mom's birthday landed shortly there after on tuesday. What a blast we had getting ready! Chad & I went down Easter monday after tare down at the church and stayed the night, then tuesday (Mom's b-day) while she was at work we prepared supper and a cake. We thought since Mom's birthday doesn't usually land this close to Easter, we should make an Easter festive cake for her.
Hence the bunny! Oh the bunny was hilarious! Angela and I made Chad go into the Elgin store to get some candy to decorate with, I had brought along two cake mixes, a French Vanilla and a Chocolate, Chocolate icing and Vanilla....but we didn't know if one mix would be enough so we decided to make them both (4 cakes!) then when we get ready to bake we find out Mom only has heart shaped cookie pans. Crazy girls!
While Katilyn was sleeping we attempted to put together (cut out a cake). Chad returns with candy, a licoracie pipe to cut off the end for a cute little nose...well we dicided to use other candy for that....so that meant bunny smoked a pipe. Then we thought little marshmellows would make good paws, with licorice sticks for claws...ended up looking like bunny boobies, but really what could we do because once it was on the icing, it just wouldn't come off without leaving a hole and nummy me bought two kinds of icing, not dreaming we would use both mixes and icings, so we were busy trying to cover bunny with chocolate and white icing.... hence boobie sporting, cigar smoking, birthday bunny! Too funny.
Then Chad fires up the bbq for chicken, but he left the skin on it and we had FIRE! :) Charring the chicken of course is a gormet chef's special touch so it was great! he pulled it off the bbq after achieving the blackened crisp and cooked the rest in the oven. I'd say the day was a hit though!

"To believe in God or in a guiding force because someone tells you to is the height of stupidity. We are given senses to receive our information within. With our own eyes we see, and with our own skin we feel. With our intelligence, it is intended that we understand. But each person must puzzle it out for himself or herself." Sophy Burnham

Easter 2006

As Easter 2006 at Smythe Street Cathedral draws to a close, I like many am filled with conflicting emotions. There is the relief, that yes, the crazy number of production practices have come to a close, that I might actually go to bed with my husband again for the first time in weeks, that I won't have to drop by the church to say hello to him, that I won't have to sneak a moment with him somewhere in front of church members... And yet, there is disappointment, realizing that these relationships that have grown a little deeper this Easter season simply because we were forced together for practices, likely will wait another year, for next years Easter production to get a little deeper.

I am challenged to be more consciencious to people's needs and how I might encourage them throughout the year. So often I find it so easy to retreat in my own self consciousness. I need to be bold and courageous, caring less about what I think people think of me and stepping out in who I know God has made me to be!

Pastor Verner spoke Sunday morning about being "Under Pressure", a good message for all those of us who were so busy and "under pressure" during Easter production! He reminded us how the best and the worst of us comes out when we are under pressure. How true! When the worst shows it's ugly head, remind me Lord to examine that part of myself.

After the final production the cast went out to the Jubilee for a cast party and buffet! Just a couple final hours left together before routine sets in again.

Check out Chad's super cool Ugandan Shirt he wears festivly every Easter!

Thinking about Jesus today

Today I am thinking about Jesus. In so doing I have realized how often when things spiritual cross my mind, that it has little to do with Jesus. More to do with my situations, friends' situations, loved ones' situations, my breaking heart... more of me calling out to Jesus/God for help, less of me thinking about who Jesus was and remains.

Perhaps it is because it is Palm Sunday, but I can't help but think of this man, my God and Savior. If we could only strip away all of the religion, church doctrine, and look at Jesus.... Look at him on Palm Sunday, 2000+ years ago, being carried through the streets of Jerusalem so aware of the near future and how different it would be from that moment. So loudly they adored and praised Him yet in a few days they would be the ones who would scoff and mock him, and eventually kill Him.

How often am I like this? Praising Him, adoring Him yet the next day, or even sometimes hours later doing things, being involved in situations which spit in the face of who He truly is.
Lord reduce me to Your love, draw me to my knees, remind me of who I am without You, guide me to follow You, not church, not spiritual leaders, but You Lord Jesus. Show me a glimpse of uncut, unedited, unmodified YOU!

The Big 3-0!

Well, it has happened! Chad turned the big 3-0 Sunday April 2nd. He seems to be doing well with the transition, better than I anticipate I will be! Friday night we had a big family bbq here at the house, tons of burgers and cripsy weiners! he!he! Saturday night Chad & I had a quiet night in before the big Easter run and then Sunday was a full day at church. They slipped a powerpoint announcement of his birthday with cutsie baby pics and sang happy birthday. At lunch Jill, our choir director got him a cake and we all sang to him again. Then, after the Easter Prayer Concert Chad & I and a couple of his really close trusted friends (from his board of directors from his life) went out for a late supper and talked about life and milestones. I think overall, although hardly a big birthday party like I would want, he had a good day and celebrated in true contemplative Chad fashion. I hope he finalizes his thoughts on his blog on turning 30. Here are some birthday pics and a cute baby pic.

The Cheesecake Factory

More on the honeymoon :0P Seems like we did a lot of eating~sounds like a great hooneymoon to me! When Chad & I got to Providence, Rhode Island I was beyond thrilled to see the beautiful, infamous Cheesecake Factory just a block away from our hotel room. OOOOOOooooo blissful evening! I had never been to the Cheescake Factory before and I was sooooo excited. Cheesecake, in my personal opinion, is a God give piece of heaven meant to connect us with some of the pure delights of perfection! The groans and moans as I slowly spooned each creamy, smooth, chocolate-y dreamy mouthful to my lips! ahhhhhh.....if only there was a Cheescake Factory near home...?
Is there a Cheescake Factory near you?
http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

OK, you've got to excuse me but I've got the afternoon off AND last night I finally got around to scanning our Honeymoon pics from July! So I'm walking down memory lane!

One of my favorite memories about our honeymoon is the Krispy Kreme Adventure. Chad had gone on about the wonderful Krispy Kreme doughnut for eons before we got married, so when we got to Rhode Island and found out that there was a store just outside of Providence where we were staying you can't imagine OUR excitement! So we went to the tourist bureau (because the Hotel people would only tell us it was super far away) for directions, I mean really, we figured, you can travel the whole island in 45 minutes how long of a drive can it be? So after they too went on about how long the drive would be and we had explained we were from CANADA, and they picked their jaws up off of the counter (whipe the drool please) AND we'd explained why we'd chose Rhode Island of ALL places to spend part of our honeymoon at, they described for us a 10 minute drive out of town.

Excited, Chad called the store to ask when they would have their fresh doughnuts. For those of you that don't know what makes their doughnuts so amazing is that when you come in during production hours you can watch them be made in the store and they will serve you one right off the conveyor belt when you walk in the door.

Well, I of course had never been there before so Chad wanted to ensure I had the full on expereince. So he got the timing down and decided to go over for after supper dessert (we were headed to the Italian District in Providence for supper). After supper we headed off, of course we got lost the first time but when we finally got there their conveyor belt was down, disappointed we headed home. The next day we got the times down again and went over after a Mr. Potatoehead hunt. When we got there, the belt wasn't working again. Disappointment we decide to make a midnight run because they promise us it will be up and running by then. Remember Chad has kept me in the car each time, because he doesn't want my first expereince to be anything but complete, so I'm not allowed to even enter the store as he gets the info.

The next morning is Sunday and we're packing up from our hotel adventures to go camping along the coast, it is our last chance to get to Krispy Kreme so we decide to get up early and get Krispy Kreme doughnuts for breakfast before church. But, the next morning the alarm doesn't go off right (who knows how to set hotel alarms right anyway?) and we wake up with 1 hour to go before church. We've got to shower, pack up, go get our doughnuts and get to church in an hour, and it's a 10 min drive outside the city each way. We realize we can't possibly do everything. You must understand that that was they only time we could go when doughnuts would be fresh!

Convictions aside we jump from bed right into clothes to go to Krispy Kreme (yes over church, head hanging). We get there, whipe the sleep out of our eyes and see the red neon sign, it is lit, doughnuts are being made! Walking in the door, the conveyor belt is going, and a fresh, hot, glaze dripping doughnut is handed to me. I must tell you it was the absolute best doughnut I have ever had and I fully intend of hunting one out in Seattle this summer. Please ignore the lack of makeup and "just crawled out of bed" look! :0P


Is there a Krispy Kreme in your area? http://www.krispykreme.com/

Who is this Jesus?

In a quest to revisit Jesus, as presented by the Bible and not necessarily by churches and religious people. I begin in the first book and first chapter of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew 1.

So who was Matthew? A tax collector. The Word in Life Study Bible says "In Matthew, He (Jesus) had a direct entree into the underworld of Jewish society, a class of people untouched by the religious legalists but deeply in need of a Savior." Lets just think about what life for Matthew must have been like, nobody likes taxes, and as the collector he certainly wouldn't have been looked upon very fondly. He would have been looked at with suspicion, and I don't imagine he would have been on the top of the list of people to inivite to go hang out. We wouldn't find him at the highclass parties in Roman society. He was working for the horribly repressive and destructive Roman Empire! Not exactly a popularity card for himself! We'd find him downtown, slumping around spending his money frivously and meaninglessly. His friends, if he had any would be other people who were looked down upon, maybe the poor, prostitutes, gamblers and those with addictions, those people that "religion" wouldn't be touching at all. Yet, after he meets Jesus he leaves this life, follows Jesus, becomes a Pastor and writes what ends up being, the first book of the New Testament, and introduction to life after the law of Moses! Wow.

Ok. Back to Matthew 1. Here I am reminded of Jesus geneology. Ok, not reminded but it is thrust in our faces! I mean who starts out a book with a long list of where the person came from? Woops! did Matthew notice that he got Tamar and Rahab in there, I mean they were WOMEN and did he remember what THEY had been up to?! and what about "the Wife of Uriah, sounds ambigious but that was actually Bathsheba, and we all know what a pickle she got into with King David. Interesting that Matthew introduces Jesus to us by making sure we know that Jesus came from a mixed ethnic background with histories to be proud of, and others where He could have wanted to hang his head a bit. All falliable humans.

Interesting...That He was to be named "Immanuel" which means "God with us" God-With-Us, I can't help but feel a sense of peace when I hear that, God-With-Us. Jesus didn't come to take us out of our mess and pain and hurt, not to judge us and condem us, not to set up a bunch of rediculous rules we can't succeed at, but to sit beside us, love us, wrap His arms around us, and pay the punishment for us; and "Jesus" "He will save His people from their sins"; and "Messiah" meaning "Savior".

Do you think it is significant that after Matthew explains Jesus' family tree, and how God told Joseph through an angel what the baby's name would be Matthew reiterates that Joseph did call him Jesus? verse 25: "...And he (Joseph) called His name Jesus." Wow what a sentence! Joseph recognized that this child would be "God with us", "save His people from their sins" and "Savior"to all those who ask, so he obeyed and "called His name Jesus.

Honeymoon: The Hunt for Mr. PotatoHead

Did you know that Rhode Island is the home of Mr. Potatohead? Chad & I found out when we were on our honeymoon, so we made it our goal to find as many as we possible could while we were there. Tonight, I finally scanned our honeymoon pics, so take a look at these fabo of Mr. Potatoheads! The one to the left is the Original Mr. Potatohead in a children's park named after a composer or something...John Williams Park or something. The one below here is from the Italian District in Providence Rhode Island, he was pretty beat up with vandilism. Below him you'll see Mr. Potatohead from Galilee RI, he was really well kept! You should have seen the looks from people as we ran around getting our pics with Mr. Potatohead! It was so fun and cheap activity! We're weird. Then there is our beach baby Mr.Potatohead. He was in the worst condition and on someone's lawn, so here I am trying to get my pic with him before the people come out of their house and we're caught, Chad's sitting in the car taking the pic, car running, he!he! Here he is poor baby. Those were the only ones we found, we were disappointed and kept our eyes pealed. Maybe someday we'll go back and find some more. Who knows!

Back to the Basics

OK, it's gonna happen.
Religiousity (one of my personal greatest irritants) aside! I'm going to endeavor to get back to the basics of Jesus, who He is, what does the Bible say about Him, how would He react to situations, people today? What did He say while He was here on earth? What did He do? Join me if you like, in the next weeks leading up to Easter as I study, and contemplate anew "Who is Jesus?"

I'm gonna fly!

I am soo excited!
It's official!
Since I was a little girl I have always wanted to fly & travel the world. Due to a serious lack of finances it has never been possible. I have traveled as far West as Dallas Manitoba with CEF one summer and as far East as NFLD another summer but never the plane experience! As a child I promised myself that by the time I turned 27 I would have flown, and that by the time I was 30 I would have been overseas. (I have a massive list of things that I need to accomplish by certain years in my life~ we won't get into the list today...strange? maybe)

Anyway, Chad has a conference in Kalowna BC (see pic upper left) this June so we decided to try and make a vacation of it. We're going to fly out to Kalowna for 4 days of conference, then head over to Vancouver and Victoria (see pic on right) and do some visiting and see the PACIFIC!!! and then head down to Seattle WA (see pic below left) to visit with his dear friends the Oleson's and see Seattle too! We've got a couple of weeks and we're going to pack it in! I am so excited for the vacation, the flying experience, the whole thing! WOOOOWWWEEEEE!

I want the whole experience! We got our email notification (ticket) the other day~ and I'm estatic! I mean it's really going to happen! I want the peanuts, the window seat, the boarding pass~I'm going to have to scrapbook it! I mean obviously not in the true scrapbook sense of the word with expensive paper and stickers and stuff, but it's going to be a blast!

What a busy summer! We'll return for just a week and have to head off to Cornerbrook, NFLD for our friends wedding! Talk about opposite coasts in a 3 week span! What a summer! Now I just need to find another job to help pay for all of this! Thank goodness for income tax returns :0)

What Is Your Deepest Fear?

This is so beautiful. I absolutly love this:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we subconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
~From A RETURN TO LOVE by Marianne Williamson

Hardly an appendage!

Today was great, and so encouraging! I must admit as a new Pastor's Wife it can be kinda rough at times, dealing with people's expectations, trying to figure out what all of this life in ministry thing should look like, or at least DOES look like. But today was great.

I will admit it, I wasn't exactly looking forward to the District meeting of Pastor's & their wives today ~ remarkably (remarkably because I'm not easily intimidated) I get rather intimidated at these things~ feeling like I don't "fit" or measure up. But I think I'm starting to get comfortable in my own shoes now, well my new shoes with the Pastor's Wife insoles!

How encouraging it was to talk with others in ministry and get to know some different folks. There is this misconception that Pastor's wives are quiet, demure appendages but I find the more women I get to know who are married to pastors, the more I realize that many (dare I say most?) are the exact opposite of this! They are outstandingly strong women, opinionated, pillars who believe whole heartidly in the love and grace of God and long to be accepted as themselves only, women who love God above all else, desire and give their lives to see others experience His grace, support, love and yes, challenge their husbands, have desires, opinions (it's true!), motivations and ministries of their own along with their ministries with their husbands, and can be (just like anyone) a pile of fun to hang out with!

I am encouraged.

We also watched a video from Willow Creek Ministries by Bill Hybels giving leaders tips on how to lead~ this was excellent! I'm certainly going to type up the notes I took because they are applicable not only to leading in God ministry but are also really applicable for teaching. If you are a leader you might want to check out more info at http://www.growingleadership.com . I can't wait to go to their telecast conference in Moncton this August!

Wow what a week!

Wow what a week.
It has been yet another difficult week, I find myself doing a lot of soul searching and thinking this week. My sister Angela, after a trying week with her daughter Kaitlyn in the hospital was just getting back into the routine of life at home when she headed out last Saturday to pick up some things for the baby at the mall.

Not 5 minutes from home she was in a terrible car accident, totalling her car and another lady's, as well as side-swiping a truck. She hit a patch of ice and a turn in the road. Needless to say it is amazing that she is even alive, and it has given me much cause to think about life, family etc. She broke her collarbone and isn't in great shape, but she is alive. How scary it is to think we may have lost her. How quickly life can change, so drastically and dramatically.

I have to stop and think about what really matters, again. Most things seem so frivolous and meaningless; even the things we get so worked up about. How important it is to end each encounter with the people we love reaffirming how much we love them. Life is so short, and although beautiful, misunderstandings can so quickly divide us. I mean the week with Kaitlyn in the hospital was too much, and then to hear of Angela and to think of all the possibilities of life without her, more than this little mind can wrap around. I wonder what all of this means for my family. Perhaps we are learning in a deeper way to cherish each other even more.

I spent most of March break at home in Moncton trying to help out. Angela broke her collarbone so she is unable to pick up Kaitlyn and care for her for the next four weeks. Until Mom could workout something with her work place, my sister April and I did our best to help out at home. With all the business of caring for Kaitlyn and trying to relieve Angela I don’t think it really hit me, the gravity of the situation, how blessed I am to still have her, until I returned to Fredericton yesterday. I stop and thank God for her. I pray for her healing, physical and emotional and that I will be reminded how precious life and family is and the need to cherish and protect what God has given me.

The Amazing Race

I am so excited! Tonight one of my favorite t.v. show's premieres, "The Amazing Race". I love it for a variety of reasons. Primarily the thought of jumping in a plane and travelling the world is so exciting! As a little girl I have always dreamed of traveling the world over, visiting differnent countries and experiencing a variety of cultures! As a teenager I was determined to find a way to live one year in an array of large world cities and smaller exotic communities all over the world. Now, an old married woman, this seems a little more difficult but I still dream of world travel. I mean 24 hours in a country is hardly equivilent to a year long immersion but what an awesome start, and really, if you won you could revisit some of the more interesting spots.
The second thing that I find so intriging about this show is less the competition and more about group dynamics. I love watching personalities flare and couples communicate in high intensitiy situations. I must admit this doesnt mean I like watching those afternoon talk shows where groups are set against each other in verbal and physical debate, but instead this show exemplifies inerent personality traits at their finist.
I particularly enjoy watching married couples as they play the game together and attempt to work together. This probably has something to do with my new married status. I must a say I wonder how Chad & I would make out on this show. If nothing else we would be hilarious to watch. Do you suppose a Pastor and his wife would make good t.v. I would bet money on it if I were a betting gal, which I ain't. Not that we ever disagree or banter back and forth or anything, oh no! It would be funny. Chad's World travelling expereince coupled with my street smarts, we could be contenders!
Thinking about argument and discussion as personality traits flare, maybe instead of premarital counselling engaged couples should look into some sort of Amazing Race equivilent. I mean, really, what a better way to get your feet in the water (or mud) and identify some areas worthy of "discussion". I'll have to mention this to Chad and see if he wants to work it into his premarital counselling. Something tells me he'd be game!

Our Valentine's Dollies

When I was travelling down in Bangor over Christmas I found the cutest little Valentine's bibs and Valentines sleepers and dresses so I just had to get some for my adorable little neices! Here they are adorned with more holiday garb from their loving and adoring Aunt Heidi and Uncle Chad. Why is it just so amazingly easy to spend every cent you do and dont have on babies! These two dollies are so special, I can't imagine loving anything (even my own potential children someday) as much as I love them. Look at how cute they are!

This is Savanna Naomi Jade Billington, she is Chad's sister Autumn's baby.

Did you have any idea that bibs could be so cute? I mean, they are supposed to catch drool, spit up and mushed up baby food but some of them are just sooooo cute!

Kaitlyn is Home

Great news today! Kaitlyn went home last night. She was discharged early yesterday morning under the agreement that she would drink 4 oz of milk before hand. She had difficulty getting down the 4oz, it took her until 2pm and then the doctor said it took her too long so she needed to get down another 4oz in a shorter amount of time before they let her go, if she couldn’t, they were going to try the IV route again. This must have evoked fear in her little ears because she downed 5 ½ oz in the next couple of hours and was released at 6:30pm to everyone’s relief. She has been given an oral dosage of medication for the next few days and Angela has been given strict orders that if anything seems unusual or problematic she is to head right back into the hospital with the baby. We pray this is the end of it for her.

We ask that when you think of Kaitlyn you pray that when she goes for further tests (aprox. 3 weeks) on her kidneys to ensure they are functioning properly and that this was just a strange occurrence in a child this young, that the doctors will have wisdom and direction.

Again, thank you for all of your prayers, it has been a difficult week to say the least but Angela assures me Kaitlyn is smiling and giggling again and seems to be on the mend as she settles back into life at home. I attached a couple of pics of our dollie so you’ll be able to put a face to all the prayers. Again, thank you. What a blessing it is to know that body of Christ comes together to pray for God’s little ones AND their families during difficult times.

Jireh Gospel Choir

This weekend the Jireh Gospel Choir is going to be joining us at our church, Smythe Street Cathedral (http://www.smythestreetcathedral.com). We're really excited to be having them! From Montreal they give a bilinguial concert (French & English) singing God's praises. They have sung with Cirque de Soliel and have performed all over the world! What a priiledge for us to have them sing for us and lead us in worship this Sunday! If you are in Fredericton this Sunday, Febuary 26th you want to check them out at our Sunday morning services at 9:00am and 11:00am. Check out their website at http://www.jirehgospelchoir.com

baby Kaitlyn

Thanks to all of you for all of your prayers these last few days. It has been such a scary and worrisome few days. Kaitlyn, my sisters' baby started with a spiked fever, moaning, rash etc. last thursday. After a week of hospitalization and tests the doctors have finally got a handle on making her better. There have been many tears and prayers going up all over North America these last days as the doctors ruled out Meningitis, Lukemia and numerous other things they didn't dare mention to us.

Kaitlyn has a bacterial infection in her kidneys. This is uncommon at her age, just 6 months old, and they will do tests as an outpatient to check the function of her kidneys. Unfortunatly while in hospital she also contracted a gastriointestinal infection making her illness confusing as she exhibiited a variety of symptoms that didn't seem connected.

Today the doctor is confident she is well on her way to recovery. With a double increased dose of antibiodicts she is responding well and the doctor assured Angela (Kaitlyn's Mom) that if she had 24 hours as good as the last 24, Kaitlyn will be able to go home tomorrow.

Again, thank you for all of your prayers, they mean so much. I whispered to Katilyn the other night while I was rocking her trying to comfort her, "Do you know Kaitlyn, that there are people all over North America praying for you to get better?" Thanks to God for her health! I am so a happy to see her beautiful smiling face again.
~H

Wedding Pics

Our fabulous wedding photographer Mark Orienstein or deJourdan's Photographics sent along a couple wedding pics for Chad & I to enjoy, so I thought I'd share them with you. They are so beautiful!
These pics were taken after our wedding ceremony but before the reception. It was such a beatufiul day and you can see that nature was cooperating with us. We had some family and wedding party pictures taken at Odell Park, but these were intimate ones taken of the two of us by the St. John River just outside of Fredericton at Woolastook Park. This is where Chads' heart pounding dangerously quickly, daylight quickly fading, we were engaged, last year Feb 5th, except it was a cold, snowcovered, bright stary evening and we were watching the sunset,

drinking tea from Chad's coleman camp stove and munching on Chad's Grammie's Cinnamon Rolls (which are amazing!)

We thought it would be meaningful to come back to this spot and get some pics on the wedding day. So here are a couple of beautifully creative pics for you to enjoy as well. This is where it began and I melted his heart with my words of acceptance "Of course, you Toad!"

The Playhouse

Last night was such a blast! I had the privledge of singing at the Playhouse for a benefit concert to raise funds to send doctors from our area to Sierra Lionne. Soul Purpose, The Lapointes, Jaqueline Vallinquort, Sheldon Gordon, The Smythe Street Cathedral Choir and others combined their talents for a great evening of music. I don't know how much money they managed to bring in but it was a great event. Our choir decided to dress up in African traditional dress (we borrowed them from some lovely African ladies in our church). I had the privledge of wearing Sharon (my mother-in-law's) Ugandan dress (from her days as a missionary to Uganda) and later switching into another African surong-thing. Here's a pic of Betty Anne & I getting ready in the dressing room and later a pic of Krista & I after it was all said and done.

Our First Ever Christmas Tree!

Well, it's been ages since I've posted, mostly because I've been waiting on some gorgeous, or at least funny pics from the holidays to post along with my message. For example, see the following oh so cool pics of Chad & I out hunting down our first ever Christmas Tree. Chad couldn't have been thinking right when he overheard about a U-pick for Christmas Trees and decided to mention it to me. The romantic that I am was thrilled at the idea and "got it set in my head". Those of you who know me, this can be a very dangerous thing. Stubborn mule, might be a good way to describe some of my attritbutes at times. Anyway, to make a long story short, we intended on getting our tree on two seperate occasions but things continued to get crazy busy as the season neared it's peak and it became even more difficult. Chad mentioned a couple of times that we might want to consider getting our tree at the little spot just down the road from our house. NOT, a U-pick, I quickly dismissed the idea. Well the day arrived, we were going to get OUR first ever Christmas tree as a married couple at a U-pick Chad had heard of closer to home and then head out to Chad's Grammie's to help decorate her house for Christmas. When we arrived at the U-pick, the sign said, ever so clearly "Open Saturday's and Sunday's". that's right! who goes to get their Christmas tree on a Monday night?!!
Disappointed and running out of time Chad suggests again "Maybe we could get one at the spot on the road by our place."
"Sure, whatever," I reply, "lets just get the stupid tree."
I'm afraid my attitude probably isn't coming across just right but I will admit it, I was sulking, badly. My good husband turns the car around and heads out of town to the next U-pick he's aware of, a good 45 minutes from our house. We arrive in the dark but the good natured man showed us the trees and gave us a massive stick to measure with. We had a ball trying to pick the perfect tree and I must admit I do believe we did. Here is a pic of Chad and the saw preparing to cut down our tree. Isn't he cute!

Married 5 months

Hard to believe it is true, but Chad & I will have been married 5 months December 23rd! Wow how fast the time goes. Although marriage certainly has some adjustment I must say I highly recommend it, when you've chosen well. I believe I have. Here we were on the big day!

Another New Begining

Yesturday, December 9th, I finished my student-teacher internship. There was much laughter and tears as my class spoiled me rotten on my last day. They had been working for weeks during their PRA to create a DVD for me of teaching moments, goofing around and being silly and endearing and funny comments on my teaching abilities. Strung together with tender moments with students and the theme song "I will remember You" by Sarah Mclaughling, you're starting to get a picture as to why there were tears. They also planned a suprise pizza, cake and movie party with a giant card with their pictures on it where they all signed it, a homemade pencil case, gingerbread man soap, a gift certificate for the blue door, balloons, it was a full day!

Yes, it's true! I've finished school! Finally! What a long road it has been! It is hard to believe that now I am done, Done. Done something I have strived for, fought for, dreamed of, struggled through, and now...I am done. As I packed up all of my belonings long after the bell had run yesturday I stopped to think about this stop in the journey of my life. Chad had asked me the other night how I was feeling and I said "As if I'm about to step off a precipice, nearly certain that something great, wonderful and exciting is going to catch me and carry me off soaring to something even better; yet the possibility remains that I could crash on the rocks beneath me.

That's all for now.
~H