Confessional Friday

It is Friday again and time to link up with some awesome pretty ladies <3 

Today I confess to you:

1) I am so thankful and over joyed that I have a new job- 

you can read about it here  Been setting up my office and buying office supplies- it is my favourite shopping to do, I love a pretty office and pretty office supplies, anyone agree?

2) I dislike halloween- I have never celebrated in ever in my life, my parents never ever sent us out, if we wanted candy, they would buy it for us... you may think we are nuts, but that's how I was raised.. so NO I don't send Brooke out door to door- there are far to many crazies in this city to even trust anyone, so tomorrow night we will hang out with each other, maybe do something fun and have our own holiday 

3) I babysat our pastor's little girl yesterday - we had fun together, she is so precious, I was so tired when she left that I took a nap, haha

{How I felt} 

4) I love the Gilmore girls- I am watching all the seasons for about the 5th time now and I still love every minute, have you ever watched them?

What are you confessing to us this week?

New Job and Halloween Party

I haven't worked since Aug 27th, when my casual position with federal government ended, I have applied for a lot of jobs, a lot I just applied for the sake of applying- is that wrong;) 

Yesterday while I was hanging out with my friend Amy- I got a call for a phone interview, so they did it right then and there.. they asked me if I could do a second interview even before I hung up with them, went in for my 2nd interview and they were very interested.

I got a call before 9 am today but I wasn't available  

I never got back to them til 4 pm because my day was crazy, so finally we connected and they OFFERED ME THE POSITION

I am the new appointment coordinator for Dealermine

I begin on Monday, it is a work from home position, so hubby went and got me a gift as a congratulations today, my new chair

In other news tonight was the annual Halloween party at church, Brooke was not sure what she wanted to be this year but this is what she decided on 

She loves the show Master Chef and decided to be a chef. 

Other costumes there were: 

eye lashes anyone ;) 

 

Sibling Love

These two were making me laugh all night. 

Review- Never Ever Give up

Review of Never Ever Give up- if you do not have this book on your wish list, you need to add it..
I started reading and no way I could put it down, I felt like I was with the family as they went thru the testing and treatments that came with her cancer.
 It had me laughing, crying and made me think- no child should have to deal with cancer- they had such a big hearts though.

 Even though she was sick, she wanted to help the other kids. During the ten months she battled cancer, she and her family worked in the 'Joy Factory' (originally their garage) making JoyJar - packages filled with toys, games, and love for other kids with cancer. Jessie first handed them out personally at the hospital where she was being treated, but the effort blossomed quickly and there were soon thousands of JoyJars being distributed across the United States and to over fifteen countries.

Today, more than 100,000 kids have received JoyJars, and they continue shipping each week to kids in over 200 children's hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses. Jessie lost her battle with cancer in January 2012, but her message lives on in the Jessie Rees Foundation, which has become a beacon of hope for families fighting pediatric cancer.

 

Wednesdays for Women- Tough Topics- Divorce

Wednesdays for Women for a couple weeks is going to be a little different, I am going to be sharing some stories of some friends, if you read them I know you will be encouraged. 

Julie is my hero- she is one of the sweetest people in the entire world, she has been thru so much, she always has such positivity, love and she is just down to earth and I love her. 

Here is her story of her divorce. 

• TODAY.....
• i rolled up the tin door to my storage unit to the remains of my downsized house 3 1/2 years ago.
• as i lifted a cardboard box, the wet bottom gave way. 
• i leaned it against the wall in hopes of saving the contents.
• as i did, there was a domino effect of picture frames 
• that came crashing down with the box.
• it was all it took to take me over the top!
• i sat down on a coleman ice chest....looking at broken glass and broken vases.
• what a picture of me, i thought.
• B R O K E N !!!!
• the tears gave way and spilled on the cement floor.
• the domino destruction of divorce spills out all over the floor
• in a broken heap.....
• contaminating everything it touches. 
• it's a death.
• but...the casket door never closes. 
• a living death.
• the grieving and sadness never stops.
• you think you've grieved
• yet, somehow, it takes you by surprise over and over and OVER again.
• no wonder GOD hates it!
• it's not good for us!
• today was such a day. 
• i've cried more today than i ever have since i moved in with my sissy. 
• and...it's been 3 1/2 years.
• i grieved when i saw a chalkboard that i had in the entranceway of our house
• with a picture of us on our honeymoon.
• i put it there, as a reminder, that we should fight for our marriage.
• along with a piece of paper attached
• with the daily schedule of when i drove jenni to work.
• (she could not drive because of her recent diagnosis of epilepsy).
• everything was packed up....just the way it was
• when i left our home.
• the home...... that was no more.
• i grieved when i found a box of printed out quotes 
• that he used to lay around the house.
• i grieved when i found the "PILTAI" sign that we walked under 
• whenever we entered our back door. 
• i made that sign lest we ever forgot
• that JESUS IS OUR DELIVERER.
• i grieved when i found a cassette tape i recorded, 
• while living in Hawaii,
• of Jen and Jess just starting to talk
• entitled "Hawaii 4-0"
• (that was sent home to grandma and grandpa).
• i grieved for the holidays that my children 
• could not return to their childhood home.
• i grieved for my grand babies (present & future) 
• that would never know grandmommy's house.
• yes!
• stuff....is just....stuff.
• but boxes contain a lifetime of important memories.....
• old toys, books, play clothes, dolls....that i saved for them....
• and their children.
• this stuff is an important link to history. and belonging.
• my mom and dad left me with such a rich heritage.
• after their death, when we went thru their house, 
• it was heartwarming and enlightening
• to rediscover their myriad interests in life.
• in it, i discovered more of who i was and why i was the way i was.
• there were reels of tapes, recorded sermons, records, sheet music, music books, piano rolls.
• books on gardening, books about JESUS, health lectures.
• designer patterns for little girl dresses that mom sent away to NYC for...
• to sew dresses for us girls out of feed sacks 
• that daddy brought home from the mill.
• boxes and boxes of "popular mechanics" magazines 
• that daddy used to devour...
• and then copy and build things.
• i grieved that my children would have no memoirs like this.
• one thing i've learned. 
• when grief hits, you need to grieve.
• it you avoid it,
• you will grieve later on in life....usually in a worse manner.
• yep.
• it was a grieving day today!
• then....
• i hopped on the bus. 
• and was ministered to as i heard third day sing:
• "there is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
• and love for the broken hearts.
• there is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
• that meets you wherever you are
• cry out to JESUS."
• and i cried out to JESUS....
• and remembered the overwhelming goodness and faithfulness of FATHER
• and how HE met me time and time and time again
• as i flailed myself at HIS feet.
• how HE provided every step of the way with my sister and her husband 
• opening up their amazing home to me
• how HE daily met my needs with this job i so enjoyed
• how HE filled me with joy unspeakable
• how HE set me free from bondage and oppression
• how HE turned my black and white world into color
• how HE answered the deepest prayers i prayed in this precious "hidey hole" of mine
• how HE blessed me with purpose and creativity like i've never experienced in my life
• how HE provided for my love of traveling to visit my daughters
• how HE gave me hope when i pray for restoration of our family
• and demanded recapturing the ground that was stolen from us
• how HE gave us a love and deeper appreciation for each other...more than we've ever known
• how HE surrounded me with the best caring friends and family anyone could have
• how HE opened the doors of compassion for me to help others in the way i've been helped.
• and....
• i was overcome to tears 
• with love and adoration to my SAVIOR 
• who 
• rescued me, 
• delivered me, 
• heard me,
• healed me, 
• defended me, 
• helped me,
• carried me,
• LOVE ME!!!!!! 
• BLESSED ME!!!!!!
• then....
• i declared along to chris tomlin's
• "all the way my SAVIOR leads me
• who have i to ask beside
• how could i doubt HIS tender mercy
• who through life has been my guide
• all the way my SAVIOR leads me
• cheers each winding path i tread
• gives me grace for every trial
• feeds me with the living bread
• all the way my SAVIOR leads me
• o, the fullness of HIS love
• o, the sureness of HIS promise
• in the triumph of HIS blood
• and when my spirit clothed immortal
• wings its flight to realms of day
• this my song through endless ages
• JESUS led me all the way
• JESUS led me all the way"
• this patch of life is short
• this side of eternity.....
• CARRY ON
• YOU SOLDIERS OF THE LIGHT
• WHO MARCH
• TO A DIFFERENT BEAT.........
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Guest post

Hi Everyone!

I'm Stephanie from Gathered In The Kitchen! I have been blogging for 4 years and focus on Recipe Tutorials * Craft Tutorials * DIY Handygirl Projects! 

I'm so excited to be sharing with you today my favorite Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe!!

 Thanks so much for Terri for having me! Make sure you come by and visit me!

 Don't these just look delicious?!?! Let me show you how to make them!

Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe Type: Dessert

Author: Stephanie - Gathered In The Kitchen

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 8 mins

Total time: 23 mins

Serves: 30

Recipe was inspired by Pioneer Woman Chocolate Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies, but was tweaked to become Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 sticks butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups white chocolate chips, or more to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add the eggs. Mix.
4. Mix in the vanilla.
5. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt, and then add in batches to the mixer, mixing until just combined after each addition. Gently blend in the white chocolate chips.
6. Using a cookie scoop, add 1 tablespoon portions to a baking sheet.
7. Bake about 8 minutes.

3.2.1311

These are so ooey-gooey yummy!! My kiddos LOVE them! I really love to make them huge in size and pack them for picnics!

Thanks again for letting me share with you today! Come and visit me at Gathered In The Kitchen!

Weekend Recap

Friday: 

I cleaned the house, relaxed, worked some more on some projects I have going on, I am working on sewing a dress for my nieces, I have no pattern so trying to get it to work right, oh well trial and error right. 

I made chicken burgers and salad for dinner, hubby brought home a friend with him, they made home made hot sauce- they are doing it as a side business, they can sell more then they can make, this one is made from the 2nd hottest peppers in the world right now- Trinidad Scorpion. Much to hot for me, it even took my breathe away, I am not one for hot hot sauce anyway... i like a little bit but nothing that takes my breathe away, I want my food to be enjoyable. 

Trinidad Scorpion

They are selling these little bottles right now for $10, I was shocked that they could get that, but it is all natural as well, if you want some, I can mail it to you ;) 

Later Lori and Wanda came over for a chat and tea,  I love friends like them, they come at the drop of a hat( meaning if I needed them they come- i look at them like they are my parents here. 

Watched some hockey with Hubby and then bed. 

Saturday:

We all slept in then hubby went to the office for a little bit, when he came home he had a tea for me, I love my tea and having him bring me one meant a lot. it is the little things right?

I made a lasagna dinner with salad and garlic bread, we invited friends over, I have been meaning to for a while just time got away from me, we had a great time, Brooke spends a lot of time with their daughter and they quiz together, so it was nice to have them over, they have a exchange student living with them from Columbia, it was good to hear about Columbia and get to know her. 

I had brownies and ice cream for dessert, I should have made a better dessert but I ran out of energy. 

Watched hockey after I cleaned the kitchen, Bruins vs Toronto, Bruins won 4-1 and it was incredible game. 

Sunday

Sunday's seem to come so quickly, they are always so busy for us. 

We got to church early to set up, my friend Rachel came and it was so good to see her, she brought her friend with her and he accepted Jesus into his heart, it was so cool. 

We went to Mary Brown's for lunch, just 3 of us, we usually have friends join us, but it was so nice to have just us. 

We had a band join us for sunday night service- Redemption Road- they also brought with them Village of Hope- Giving hope to the drug-alcohol dependants and their co-dependants by presenting Jesus Christ as the answer.

They had some guys tell their story and wow, i was in tears, I am so proud of those boys for seeing a problem and doing something about it, and what better way. 

Whats happening for you this week?

Confessional Friday

It is time for Confessional friday and I am linking up with Leslie 

Today I confess:

1) Hearing about the terrorist attacks on our Nations Capital Wednesday has left a very uneasy feeling with me,  why are there so many crazies in this world, why do they have to kill those who keep us safe, Oh Canada... we stand on guard for me. You can read more here 

2) I am not sure what is going on with the Boston Bruins last night, they are very disorganized and not playing their best. 

3) I'm trying to find a cheap flight from here to visit my sister, so far no luck. I refuse to pay $1300.00 for a flight to anywhere, unless it's our anniversary trip to Bora Bora 

4) I applied for a very awesome job last night and I just hope it is mine, I feel good about it, and hope to get a call because I need a job 

What are you confessing today?

Being in Control- Wednesdays for Women

To Inspire and Encourage 

I am a planner, I love to know who, what, where and how something will happen, I love to plan, I lay awake at night and I trouble myself with things I should plan or I lay awake thinking about things that I cannot plan because I have no idea who, what, when, where it will happen.

It is very frustrating as a person who plans to deal with.
I begin thinking about Brooke’s birthday party around January once Christmas is over, her birthday is July but I never wait til the last minute because I am a planner.

My calendar is always written in and it is never far from me, I put everything in there, I do not use my phone for my calendar as I like the pen to paper feeling.

We need to sometimes let life just work it self out, it is good mentally, physically and for our well being, it can cause stress but we will get thru it, God already knows our past, present and future, so why stress over things we cannot change. 

Are you a planner or do you let God take full control?

Weekend Recap

Friday: 

Had a rough day with anxiety etc, I called a friend and she came over to talk and then we went to town, I met another friend there and decided to hang out with her for the day.  We did some shopping and i spent birthday money, got some new boots and a new shirt. 

Her hubby has had some health problems so I took her daughter while she was at the hospital with him after his surgery, Brooke enjoyed having Erika here for a sleep over, they had a great time. 

I made a taco salad, we had popcorn later and a movie with the girls. 

Saturday: 

Hubby went out to breakfast with some guys, then he went to work of a little bit and then he came home because he wasn’t feeling well, so he laid down for a bit, we were going to go to the apple orchard but because he wasn’t feeling so well so we didn’t, I needed to go to Costco to the pharmacy, then I went to Walmart to pick up some things I needed for sunday’s church pot luck. 

Dropped Erika back to her mom as they were going home, we came home and Brooke and I had mac n cheese, while hubby went to bed, he was not having a good weekend, I watched some hockey and Boston Bruins won 4-0 so Sveldberg got a shut out, so happy for him. 

Made a cheesecake and a ranch pasta salad- the receipe for the pasta 

Sunday: 
Happy Birthday to my 2 nephews~ Micah (9) and Curtis (7) 

Very exciting day at the church today, we hosted our first ever All Nations Sunday- where we invite people from all over the world that live here in NB and we invited them to bring a dish form there nation- we had a great turn out, the cheesecake I made was a Newfoundland cheesecake as I am from Newfoundland, it disappeared so fast, everyone loved it. 

We also had a baptism, I am so proud of her, she is a girl I taught a study to and she is a single mother and I am so proud of her doing this. 

I also got a sweet birthday present from my secret pal- she spoils me so much

Hope my anxiety is better this week :) 

hurting

I seldom blog from my heart anymore, the post I share are more up beat and positive... so I'm sorry if this seems negative.

I am in a hurting place right now, a place that is dark and scary, the place where depression and anxiety lives, I'm not sleeping at night, I'm barely eating, I don't even know what to do.
I feel like crying all the time, I wanna sleep all the time because when Im asleep my dreams are usually good.

It's a scary place to be. It isn't a place I choose to be, a place that choose me and I am trying to work on getting out of there... if I'm not around for a bit, this is why.

Confessional Friday

Linking up with Leslie 

Time for some confession time

1) Hockey season totally is my favourite time of the year, there is no other greater sport in my opinion

2) Brooke is now of the age that she can stay home some times by her self so hubby and I decided to take a mini date and go to get groceries, it was nice.

3)  My mom is in Denver visiting my sister and the babies and yesterday I got a present in the mail- it was my favourite tea from my daddy, daddy's girl I am

4) I need a new job, I feel like I am going stir crazy now

Love-Wednesdays for women

To Inspire and Encourage 

The Greatest of These is Love

What makes love so amazing? For starters, it is what motivated the Father to send His only Son to die for us. Without love, there would have been no redemption for mankind. Not only would we be without love, but without the redemption that was precipitated by love, there would also be no faith, and no hope. You see, nothing else matters, without love. It is foundational for every other good thing in our lives.

There are many different kinds of love:
Husband/wife Love
Relationship love
Parents to Kids love
Family love
Friendship Love

I always tell my friends i love them.
Can you define love?

Some say it is romance. Some say it is bliss. It is one of those words in our English language that have so many meanings to choose from. 

Dictionary.com defines it as:

"A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend"

Though those definitions are nice…I can’t help but realize that these are mere emotions or feelings….but isn’t love something more real?

What love is really like

To be honest with you, I have yet to find any better definition of what love TRULY is than the below verses“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”  (1 John 3:16)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Love is more than emotions

Love is so much more beautiful than momentary bliss. It is so much more powerful than romantic passion. There is not a word to describe what love truly is.

All I can say is that Jesus loves you, and it is not the kind of love the world knows.

This is how I know what love is: Though I am a nobody, Jesus Christ, my King, died for me. Not because of acts that deserve such a sacrifice, no, on the contrary; while I was still a sinner.

I pray that you can find rest and peace in Jesus and in his love (Matthew 11:28-30).

The sticky faith - review

• 
  
• 
  
• This book arises from the innovative, research-based, and extensively field-tested project known as “Sticky Faith,” designed to equip parents with insights and ideas for nurturing long-term faith in children and young people. Grounded in academically verified data, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family is a positive and practical resource that empowers parents to take the small steps that can translate into big progress in their kids’ spiritual journeys.

It is Super Practical – The cover of the book states that there are “over 100 practical and tested ideas to build lasting faith in kids.” 100 ideas! Trying to implement 100 new practices in your family can seem overwhelming if not impossible. However Powell is pretty clear on the fact that parents can’t implement all 100 ideas, they probably can’t even implement 10 ideas really well! She recommends that you aim for 5, 3 or just even 1 idea before you start to implement new ideas.

The Sticky Ideas Seep Into Every Area of Life – Its easy to think of a child’s spiritual formation as simply something that happens on Sunday’s or Wednesday nights at church or possibly around the dinner table at home, but Powell does a good job pointing out that faith develops at home, on vacation, in community, in our mistakes, in our transitions, and even in our times of service. Basically if you are looking for “sticky faith ideas” to start applying to many areas of life, you will find them here.

I highly recommend this book – and that isn’t just me saying that – I actually liked this book so much that I gave it to our family ministry’s pastor as a possible resource for equipping parents to instill vibrant faith into their student’s lives.

I received this book for free for my honest review from book sneeze 

Weekend Recap

Friday:

We left for our weekend getaway at 6 or so- we arrived after 2.5 hours, it was a beautiful night on the highway. 

Once we arrived, I was leaving my cousins house to go to my aunts house and I fell down her stairs, my foot instantly started to swell badly, they wanted to take me to the hospital immediately, I refused because I thought it would get better quickly. 

Saturday:

We met up with Brooke's old day care teacher, she moved away and Brooke wanted to see her, so we met for coffee all the while my foot was throbbing, I was in so much pain yet not giving in to go to the dr...hubby and my cousins hubby went for a drive to Amerhest, they met another friend there. 

We went on a double date that night with my cousin and her husband, we went to the Keg, the food and company were awesome, it was for my birthday which was Sunday, this was my meal and dessert 

steak, rice pilaff with peppers

billy miner pie- the best pie in the world

We were late leaving there so we just went to future shop and then home. 

I went to bed around 11 pm, yet I could not sleep at all, I was awake til 7:15 am sunday morning. 

Sunday:

Happy 32nd birthday to me

We all slept in later and didn't go to church, 

my aunt made a turkey dinner, it was so delicious. 

Then they surprised me with a birthday cake and a balloon 

After lunch I was in so much pain in my foot, I went to the hospital, they did X-rays etc, found out it isn't broken, but it is badly sprained, they wanted to cast it so it would heal faster but I promised them I will stay off it and rest. 

I went to bed at 8:30 pm and got some much needed sleep. 

Monday: 

Thanksgiving Day here in Canada:

I have so much to be thankful for, today the top of my list is thankful my foot is not broken nor in a cast, thankful for my husband who works hard for us, for my beautiful baby girl who makes this momma happy, for health, a house to live in, food, friends etc. So much 

Back home Day- I hate being at someone else's house when Im sick or injured, so I was happy to be able to come home and rest up. 

How has your weekend been?