Red Hats, Bibles, and Coffee February 12, 2010

Well I guess it’s time I come back. I have been keeping busy by eating healthy, doctor’s appointments and running a bible study. Last night was the first night of my bible study. Things went really well, and all my hard work paid off. We met at William’s Coffee House and while there I was able to see something I’ve never seen before. There was a meeting of the Red Hat Society! I have heard of them, but never imagined seeing them. I sneaked a bunch of photos, including today’s. I absolutely love this group! I look forward to the day that I reach 50 and am able to don the over-the-top red hat and purple sweater. Until then I will look at my photos and remember fondly the first time I saw the Red Hat Society.

The Mysterious Red Hat Society!!

Our bible study....with the ladies in the corner!

It’s Like Elevator Music But For Blogging January 20, 2010

Tonight is a really busy night for me. I have to plan my birthday and e-mail those who are coming to my birthday the final plan. I need to “fellowship with my family”, – as my grandmother would say. I’d love to write a bit for my new blog, and I really need to figure out a budget for the upcoming unemployed months. So with all that to do, I really have no time to write anything amazing. I’ll be back tomorrow, in the meantime here is a lovely photo. (:

A Rainbow Runs Through It January 19, 2010

Okay you’ve been “let go” from your job. You pack up your desk, say your goodbyes and depart. Your life goes on, but so does the operations of your former job. Today I got to see what it was like after being “let go”. I was let go a week ago, but my last day isn’t till the end of the month. Everyday is like a sneak peak  of what the company will be like without me. We had a meeting today discussing the new positions of everyone who was staying. There were a few tears as teams and friends were split up. The entire meeting I just sat there staring at the white broad. With each minute that passed I began to realized I did not possess the power to telepathically write my name up there. Today it really hit me that this company will be moving on without me. I really am saddened by this, I love my job. It’s like treasure to me, to lose it I consider myself not whole. The worst part is I know there is so much work for me to do there! Unfortunately as the meeting proved, they will be fine without my help. On a happier note: I finished all 9 client folders I wanted to get done today! Each folder represents a client. One client can have anywhere between 1-14 folders. It’s a huge job, and I am just so thankful I was able to get that done. Tomorrow I have another long list, but I’m not worried.

This is a picture of a rainbow that was taken during the summer. It sums up my day pretty well – gloomy, but with a bright rainbow running through it.

Yes that is a double rainbow too 🙂

Okay, Well That Was Unexpected! January 12, 2010

Today I went to work with a full plan on getting things done. After some filing I was called into the HR’s office. I had heard earlier one of my fellow co-workers getting their key to the building. I was hired right after that person, so I assumed I was getting my key. I sat down in the chair and we exchanged small talk. I was praised on my work, and how far along I had come. I was then informed that unfortunately with the changes happening in the office, I will no longer be able to be employed with the firm. The HR lady kept talking, but it was all just white noise. I didn’t cry or show any emotion. I knew her job was hard and today would be the hardest, as I wasn’t the only one released. I respectfully accepted that situation and thanked her for the heads up. My last day is January 30th. I truly love this job. I’m so confused about where God is taking me, but I am sure He has a destination. After a few tears in my office, and a call to my mommy, I made a decision. I will not doubt my Father. He has a plan and I refuse to doubt, or be upset with how He plays out that plan. I am His servant and will go where He wants. But again, dang I loved that job!

Can You Feel It Yet? January 11, 2010

It’s calm now; but whispers are beginning to flood the silence. In the upcoming days it will become louder. You’ll be able to feel it in your chest pounding, and under you feet trembling. Perspiration will begin to gather on your brow. It’s so close you will be able to taste it soon. That taste will light a fire in your body filling it with adrenaline and excitement for the coming event. You will barely be able to hold yourself together! What event do I speak of? My birthday, of course! I’m turning 23 and EVERYONE is invited! The great thing is that this year my birthday falls on a Monday, which enables me to claim the weekend to celebrate. So here is my plan… Saturday January 23 we all head over to my place. There will be crazy amounts of food, silly games and I’ve heard a rumor that there may even be a pinata! There will also be a fire with smores and an outdoor tiki hut serving snow cones! Sounds awesome? I’m not done yet! There are 23 years of awesome to celebrate. So I’m taking over Sunday too! After an amazing church service we all head out to do some more crazy stuff. Plan A? Epic snowball fight (like 50 people). If there is not enough snow I think it’d be cool to plan a “improve everywhere” sorta thing. I’m not sure what exactly, but that is one idea. Another idea is one my boyfriend’s friends came up with… Capture the Flag in Ikea. Finally we’ll finish the night with a good cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate and great conversation. Monday, my actual birthday is more of a family thing. Monday night my family will (hopefully) come over and we’ll play phase 10, eat supper, and again celebrate my birth. After all this I’m sure the world will need a while to recover. It’s going to be totally fun and I’m super excited! (Oh! and depending on who is coming Sunday I may rent a limo because I have a close friend who wanted one for her birthday and I think I’d like one too, so it can be for both of us).  So I hope everyone can come!!

I am Pregnant, With an Idea! January 7, 2010

Fist off, I must say I’m not pregnant physically. That given my current status of being a virgin is impossible. So don’t freak out! The title comes from a quote my friend once said. He said the first part of the quote “I’m pregnant”…then paused to collected his thoughts and continued …”with an idea”. We all looked at him while he was collecting his thoughts like h was crazy. None of us really knew what to say. Anyhow that is the story behind the title. Why did I choose to use this particular quote? Well because I have an idea! I am pretty thin and by the outside looks of it I’m healthy. Looks of course lie. I am one of the most unhealthiest person around! I might as well be 350 lbs. I eat loads of pasta, use about a 10 cups of butter in one month and give everything I eat a nice coating of salt. I can’t run across the street without nearly passing out. I tried that a few days ago to catch my bus, and when I finally made it there I was heaving trying to catch my breathe all the way home. There are only a handful of vegetables and fruit that I can name, I eat even less. I think the last time I had fruit was pre-Christmas. The last time I had a vegetable, (potatoes not included due to my salt and butter distribution habits), was in November when a few friends and I went out to eat. I had a few bits of red pepper that was on the nachos we all shared. So I’m unhealthy, I think that proves it. I want to get healthy, I just have absolutely no idea how! My idea is to start another blog based on someone like me getting healthy. I plan on calling it “Diary of an Obese Thin Girl” or something like that. I promise it won’t affect my loyalty to this blog so keep checking back! Well times are changing and so am I! (sorry I needed a cheesy saying to go with today’s photo)

The God of David January 6, 2010

In the past recent days I’ve been reading the Psalms. I started to read them because truthfully they were short and I did not want to spend too much time reading. I know that was not the most noblest of reasons, but it is the truth. Fortunately God is a God who can do big things with little things. My little attention I gave God each night began to make a big change in my spiritual life. The longer I continued this nightly Bible reading, my reasons for reading the Psalms changed. I began to actually enjoy reading them, and no longer moaned and groaned when a longer one came along. Through reading the Psalms I’m beginning to understand who God was to David. As a young boy David was a shepherd and would spend a lot of his time out in the fields tending to his sheep. If anyone has ever seen sheep, you know they are not the most entertaining animal alive. During this time David wrote a lot of Psalms and began his relationship with his God. At this time David saw God as a shepherd like himself. He would relate the way God loves us to the way he loved his little herd of sheep. Psalm 23 is a perfect example of this. David knew God would protect His people, just as David protected his sheep. In David’s view, God created us all to go through this journey called life, but with Him by our sides the whole way. I feel like now-a-days I take God with me when I need Him, or when it’s convenient. God has not changed. He is still there wanting us to realize we need Him every step of the way, not just when it’s time to hop, skip or jump. David knew his God loved him, and although he had to stay out in that hot sun all day he knew God was with him. It is neat reading the Psalms and seeing how David’s relationship with his God changed and grew. On the battlefield in front of Goliath, God reinforced David’s belief that He was a protecting God. God continued to protect David throughout his life and career, and welcomed him back when he strayed of the path. I’m not done all the Psalms yet, but I look forward to reading them and falling in love with the God of David.

by the way the photo is of my friend Russell DeGraaf. He is a man after David’s own heart, loving God with all his heart.

What Happened?! January 5, 2010

Okay so I’m a bit outraged. All of December we were able to make it without snow; five days into January and we’re in inches of it?! This is not okay! How did this happen? I went to bed and things were good, I was woken up early to be updated on our current situation. All around Southern Ontario there have been snow storms, but Hamilton somehow was able to avoid it all. Well last night I guess we all let our guard down because the snow is here, and according to Matt Hayes it’s here to stay. This is what it looks like out my front door. Anyone wanna rethink that whole “Hibernation is only for animals” theory?

My Life As Of Now… January 4, 2010

Work is back. I’m not particularly against it, only when it interferes with my naptime. Family seems to still be coming over as if the holidays haven’t ended. My diet is still on holiday mode too, Tolberone bars and turkey sandwiches. My main focus currently has been a game I stumbled on online. It’s called Patience Deluxe. You need so much patience to play this game, because I’m pretty sure it is impossible to win! So do that tiny fact stop my from play it for hours and hours? Not a bit! My highest score is 25. See what you can get!

Dinner With The Family… I Love My Mom January 2, 2010

For Christmas I received some gift cards to go out for dinner. Today I decided to take my family out and treat them to dinner using my cards. We went to Milestones. It was my first time being there. I picked that restaurant for a reason. I’m going there with Ben sometime soon, and with my current fear of food I needed to know there was a dish there that I could eat that would be “safe”. So off we went to Burlington in my grandfathers pickup truck. I must say we fit in there nicely with my grandfather’s suspenders and plaid, my mother’s work jacket and my multi layered look. After scanning over the menu for what seemed like hours my family finally decided on our meals. I got the ” SLOW-ROASTED AAA PRIME RIB” as did my grandfather. My mom ordered the “GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR” which she didn’t even want to eat, she just wanted to doggy bag it for tomorrow’s lunch!! and “YUMMY YAM FRITES” to munch on while we ate our meals. My grandfather and I strongly debated with my mom that it was wrong to order for tomorrow. “We’re here tonight, to eat TONIGHT!”. She ended up eating the salad but still bringing home some fries. (She’s ridiculous I know, but I love her). After paying for our meal we got back into the truck. I was originally in the front seat. My mom finally made it to the truck and FAKE cried that she’d have to sit in the back. As soon as I saw her FAKE teary eyes I willfully gave up my seat. She then got into the front chuckling and said “I win!”. I was outraged that she’d use her tears against me! Who does that?! It definitely wasn’t a fair “win”. Anyhow we made it home safe and sound, and I now have a dish I know I’m “safe” to eat.