Checking in

Yes, I am still alive! No, I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth. Just sort off the face of blogging. It's been crazy busy here and I've been enjoying my kids all here for the Christmas holidays. My oldest is home until the 2nd and we've been just sitting around doing a whole lotta nothing, eating a whole lot of stuff I'll regret later and yet getting in good visiting. Us girls have done our traditional "Anne of Green Gables" marathon although this year we had to break it into 2 nights rather than an all out-all nighter. I think I'm getting old. I just can't do that anymore.

So on this morning, my birthday, I'm just watching the announcement of the members of the Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey Team. Big news here in Canada. The speaker just announced that every Canadian has been waiting for this news. Ha! They certainly don't know my hubby. He could care less. Hockey is about the lowest thing on his totem pole of thoughts. LOL. We just won't tell the guy and dash his perfect dreams. Anyway, I'm excited. LOL.

So anway, Happy Birthday to me! I opened my curtains this morning to an incredible, perfect gift. God saw fit to paint the trees and everything that doesn't move with a beautiful covering of stunning hoar frost. Hoar frost is one of my favorite things ever! I took a few quick pictures through the front window but I think I'll be running down to the lake to take some pictures before the sun comes out and melts it all off. What a perfect birthday gift. If I didn't get anything else today, I'd be very content.

Whoo hoo, I interrupt this regularly scheduled blog post to say a young kid who played on our town's hockey WHL team year before last just got named to the Olympic team! Now that makes it super exciting! Also the captain just named is the husband of the neice of one of the hairdressers at my sister in laws shop. Got that? Always more fun when you actually, sorta, kinda, but not really, know some of the players. LOL. Oh and Sydney Crosby and Jerome Iginla made the team. No surprise there. But definitely a surprise that Crosby was not made the main captain rather than just an alternate captain. Oh well. Do you care or are you more to the leanings of my hubby? LOL. It's my birthday, so you have to humor me. :v)

Anyway, speaking of birthdays, my youngest had hers on Christmas Day. A big 15 this year! Happy Birthday girlie! Unfortunately her birthday ended with a trip to the ER. Poor thing. She didn't even get any birthday cake on her actual birthday. Good thing we celebrated with one side of the family on Christmas Eve.It started the day before with her ear being very sore. It was sore here in the annual "pose in front of the fireplace with the stockings and try to get a decent shot" picture.

When she woke up Christmas Day it was really giving her grief. By the time we finished Christmas Day dinner she was in major pain and her ear was literally swollen shut. Three hours in ER later and mega doses of antibiotics, ear drops and tylenol 3's prescriptions later and she was sent home where she did a lot of this for the next few days:

:

And that's a wrap for our exciting Christmas. We didn't even get a Christmas family photo.

So now I'm off to take pictures. We'll see you Friday for Friday's Fave Five!

From the Living To Tell household, Merry Christmas to you and yours! May you and your families have an absolutely beautiful Christmas filled with love, joy and peace. May all Jesus is and all He gives bless you this Christmas and always!

Book Tour ~ "Why Did God Give Us Emotions?"

"Why Did God Give Us Emotions" by Reneau Peurifoy

From the Publisher:

There is certainly no shortage of counseling and self-help books lining the shelves of Christian bookstores today. Why Did God Give Us Emotions? is destined to distinguish itself from the rest. With simple, straightforward verbiage (no pop psychology terms here), practical steps to follow, and twenty years of wisdom and insight, Reneau Peurifoy’s book is essential reading for pastors, counselors, and those struggling with emotional issues as well as the general reader who wants to understand this wonderful, yet often mysterious gift and gain skills for managing emotions more effectively. Also included is a section of discussion questions, making Why Did God Give Us Emotions? an ideal vehicle for small group study.

Q&A with Reneau Peurifoy

Author of Why Did God Give Us Emotions?

Q: Let’s talk about the “elephant nature” of emotions. Why are emotions such a mystery to us?

A: A well-known Indian parable tells of six blind men who encounter an elephant for the first time. As each one touches a different part of the elephant, they arrive at conflicting conclusions as to what the elephant is like. The first man touches the elephant’s leg and states that it is like a pillar. The second touches the tail and declares it to be like a rope. The third touches the trunk and says it is like the thick branch of a tree, etc. Although each man’s perception is accurate, none has really understood the true nature of the elephant.

The same thing can happen with emotions when individual aspects of emotions are studied without stepping back periodically to see how they interconnect. The four main aspects of emotions explored in detail in Why Did God Give Us Emotions? include:

· The subjective nature of emotions: This includes how they make you feel, how they focus your energy and attention and how they urge you to take actions to obtain the things you want and avoid the things you don’t want. This aspect of emotions also includes the experiential understanding of events and concepts that is much more powerful than simple knowledge.

· The physical side of emotions: This includes the various parts of the brain associated with emotions, the physical reactions they cause in your body and the ways injury, illness or other malfunctions of the brain can affect how you think and feel.

· The mental side of emotions: This includes the role that your thoughts and beliefs play in generating emotions and how emotions, in turn, affect your thoughts.

· The spiritual side of emotions: This includes the way emotions reveal both your true character and the nature of your relationship with God as you struggle to live in a broken world. It also includes the way emotions give us insights about the nature of God.

Q: Can some emotions be good and others bad?

A: Christians sometimes spend a great deal of time pondering this question, whether some emotions, such as love, are good and others, such as anger, are bad. This is similar to wondering whether your hands are good or bad. Emotions, like every other aspect of your being, were originally intended to help you enjoy and serve God. However, just as the actions of your hands can be pleasing or abhorrent to God, your emotions can also serve good or evil. What we need to focus on is the source of the emotion or action. The source of evil lies in a mind and heart tainted with sin. The actions you take and the emotions you experience are just the outer expression of what is in your heart and mind. Yielding to the Holy Spirit transforms your inner being into what God intended it to be. As this occurs, your emotions, desires and thoughts are transformed so they function more closely to what God intends.

Q: In the introduction to Why Did God Give Us Emotions?, you point out that this book was twenty years in the making. Why such a long process?

A: When I completed my first book, Anxiety, Phobias & Panic: Taking Charge and Conquering Fear in 1988, I knew that I wanted to write a companion version from a Christian perspective. However, after being back in church for only four years and with so many conflicting ideas from my wanderings still in my head, I knew I wasn’t ready. In 1995, I started attending classes through Fuller Seminary’s extension program to deepen my understanding of the Bible. At this time I learned Greek and began studying the New Testament in Greek. A year later I wrote the first draft of this book but realized after several chapters that I was not yet mature enough in faith or understanding to write the book I wanted to write. So, I put it aside. I made another attempt to write it about five years later, but again was dissatisfied with the results.

Now, after twenty years of being humbled and growing in Christ, I believe that God has helped me write a book that will be useful to many. From the very start, I’ve had two goals: I wanted to look at what science has learned about emotions from a biblical perspective, and I wanted to do it in a way that would strengthen the readers’ walk with God. Over the last two decades I’ve seen the strengths of science and psychology in helping people and making our lives more comfortable. I’ve also become acutely aware of the inability of science and psychology to address the true source of human misery: sin and our separation from God.

Thank you to B&B Media Group for providing this book for review.

"Why Did God Give Us Emotions" is available here.

And it's a Wrap...Fall Into Reading is Done

It's official, it's the first day of winter. And it's here, for sure, in my area. And the first day of winter always ushers in the wrap up to Fall Into Reading.

So how did I do? Reading wise, great. Sticking to my list wise. Not so great. My list changed quite considerably as time went on. So much so that I can't even remember what was on my original list. I originally had 7 books on my Fall Into Reading List, but that soon ballooned to 15. There were several that I had forgotten about that I had committed to for reviews, so they were added. Several were dropped as they were due back at the library and I just didn't get to them. Several were added, as I just can't go to the library to make a return and leave empty handed, even though I had a pile at home. It's a sickness, I tell ya.

So in total I have finished 8 books, am halfway through 2 more and should finish before Christmas, if all goes as planned. Ha Ha. Another I was a quarter way through but it had to go back to the library, 3 others I didn't even get to before they had to go back. For the first time, I really, really enjoyed every one of my review books. I don't think I can name a favorite among them for that reason. And that is amazing because I even really liked the non-fiction and am almost finished it which is amazing for me. I'm notorious for starting non-fiction but never finishing them. There was one book from the library, I totally disliked which is a shame because I really wanted to like it.

My Finished Books:

"Into the Arms of Immortals" by Ginger Garrett

"Matters of Faith" by Kristy Kiernan

"White Picket Fences" by Susan Meissner

"Wisdom Hunter" by Randall Arthur

"Double Cross" by James David Jordan

"The Last Word" by Kathy Herman

"Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell

"Until We Reach Home" by Lynn Austin

"I Second that Emotion" by Patsy Clairmont (bible study group)

Still Reading but almost done:

"Unexplainable" by Don Cousins

"John 3:16" by Nancy Moser

If you'd like to read any of my reviews they are here. The fall into reading ones start at number 21. There are links to where you can purchase them in my sidebar.


So I'm now off to make my first ever batch of caramel corn. Should be interesting. :v) Merry Christmas to everyone. Have a wonderful holiday celebrating the birth of Christ and enjoying friends and/or family. May you even have time to get a few minutes of reading here and there.

Friday's Fave Five #67

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five. Please join in with us as we remember what our favorite five things from our week were. If you need details or guidelines, you can go here first, but then just jump right in!

Onto my five:

1. The number that participated in last week's Fave Five. You all were such a blessing. It took me all weekend but I made it through each and every single post!

2. This post had me laughing from beginning to end. Beck was up for quite a few Canadian Blogging awards. This is a prime example of why.

3. Chilis and stews. It was just this kind of a couple of weeks where chilis and stews tasted especially good. And best was when they are made in the crockpot. Saturday was frigidly cold and snowing with wind. Again. My youngest had an orchestra recital at the university, where you have to park quite aways from any door. I threw a chili together before we left, put it in the crockpot, and we had a delicious, hot, warm ya to your bones dinner when we came home.

4. Southern Alberta weather. One reason I love living here. Yes we get the bitter cold at times during the winter, but around here they never last too long. It's hard while we are in the midst of it but around here they say if you don't like the weather just wait a minute. For example, after a bitter cold week and a half with Monday's weather being -30*C (-22*F) by supper time it was 0*C (32*F). And today was a downright balmy 7*C (44*F). It's looking to be a lovely weekend.

5. Attending my daughter's orchestra recital mentioned above. I love going to these. They have 3 levels of orchestra, she's part of the junior orchestra, playing violin 3. Each level plays 2 or 3 selections on their own and then they all play one or two together. It's always a really enjoyable way to spend and hour and a half.

What were your favorite things from the week? If you do a post, please sign in on Mr. Linky so we can come and visit. Have a great weekend everyone!

Book Tour ~ Unexplainable

"Unexplainable: Pursuing a Life Only God Can Make Possible" by Don Cousins

Publisher's Summary:

“There has to be more than this…”

Who among us hasn’t at least thought this in our most honest moments, even if we haven’t asked the question out loud? Though we know we should count our blessings and be thankful, we still wonder, “Is this all there is? Surely there must be more to life than what I’m experiencing.”

Regardless of the current economic situation, our current job stresses or family struggles, we would still be searching for something more. This longing for something more was placed within us by God Himself so that we would search for Him. While we try to substitute all sorts of things with the hope of satisfying our deepest longings, relatively few find true and lasting satisfaction.

Don Cousins, author of Unexplainable: Pursuing a Life Only God Can Make Possible (David C Cook, September 2009), says that this longing is something every one of us feels. Cousins gives the example of an interview that quarterback Tom Brady did with 60 Minutes a few years ago in which he talked about his successes in the NFL. Brady stated that he was making more money than he ever thought he would make playing football, but even with all of the money, all of the attention, all of the adoration, he knew that there was something missing. Brady asked the question, “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think that there is something greater out there for me? ...it’s got to be more than this.”

In Unexplainable, Cousins shares with readers that God created us to find life in Him, and apart from His involvement, we will never find the life He intended. “As Jesus said, ‘I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly (John 10:10)’.” Cousins explains, “God wants the only explanation for us to be Him. Most people don’t know it, but they too want God to be the only explanation for them as well. When we experience God’s influence in and through us, we enter the realm of the UNEXPLAINABLE.”

Unexplainable is broken into four parts in which Cousins takes three longings found in every human heart and shows how only God can bring satisfaction and fulfillment

Contentment:

The Apostle Paul refers to it as “the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension.” It is a peace that is unexplainable because it surpasses human comprehension. It is a supernatural peace. When this peace (contentment) floods the human heart, it enables the recipient to be content regardless of their circumstances in life. This is the contentment for which we all long. Regardless of how “good” life is, such contentment is unattainable apart from God because it is the “peace of God.”

Success:

God has given us a desire to succeed in life, and no one wants to be a failure. The world has its definition of success, and most are living according to this definition. While meeting the world’s definition of success brings a measure of satisfaction, it falls short of truly satisfying the longing of the heart for success. Our God-given desire for success can only be satisfied by Him, based on His definition of success, not the world’s. Perhaps the greatest implication of this difference is seen in the fact that worldly success comes to an end when one’s life comes to an end. Godly success lasts for all eternity, and as eternal creatures, it is this success for which we long.

Significance:

Everyone wants to matter. Everyone wants to count. Everyone longs to be valued and considered worthy. However, significant in the eyes of the world is performance based. While this sort of significance brings some satisfaction, it once again, falls short. What each of us truly longs for is significance that is based upon who we are. We each want to be loved, valued and considered worthy simply for who we are. This understanding of significance is not attainable apart from God. While the world expresses love that is conditional, only God’s love is truly and completely unconditional. The fact that we are made in God’s image provides us with all the significance we will ever need

The final section of the book outlines some key ingredients if we are to move from the EXPLAINABLE to the UNEXPLAINABLE by embracing God’s truth. Cousins offers practical, biblical instruction regarding the steps each of us will need to take in order to experience the Unexplainable.

My Thoughts:

Very nicely laid out and written in a style that is understandable by anyone, (read: you don't need a degree in theological studies to understand it). This book has really spoken to me. It is inspiring and yet challenging and shows you how to live a life that is unexplainable apart from God. We all go through issues and struggles and sometimes it is hard to see out of them. In this book the author shows how one can find contentment, success and significance in the midst of trials.

I loved the format that divided the book into sections, each one building on the other. This is one of those teaching books that I found extremely easy to get into and if you know me that is not a statement I can make about very many non-fiction titles. It is also one of those that I have taken a pencil too and have done much underlying and taken many notes. There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter and an optional DVD so it is excellent for a study or book group. I'd recommend it to anyone who is struggling in any way and even if you are not.


Thank you to B&B Media Group for providing the book for review

Unexplainable by Don Cousins is available at David C. Cook.com

The Christmas Random Dozen

Please join us at Linda's for a Christmasy Random Dozen.

1. Gingerbread: For or against? Discuss. I do enjoy gingerbread. To a point. If it's a cookie, it's got to be chewy, not crispy. But I especially love this gingerbread, as in cake, not cookie, because it is absolutely awesome with that lemon sauce. Gingerbread and lemon. Who knew it would make such an awesome combo.

2. Is it important to you to always stay (live) close to family? Very important. Both Dave's and my family are all in town here. We've never lived apart from immediate family until this last year when my oldest went away to school. Far away. Way to far away in this Mom's opinion. Children leaving an 8 hour car ride away should just be illegal or something.

3. Which holiday pretend character do you wish really existed? I really don't know how to answer this one. Hmmm, what does that say about me?

4. Which holiday movie best represents how you feel about Christmas or life? Oddly enough, I've had a few Christmas with the Krank's moments, although the scene with the mom being caught in a teensy weensy bikini at a tanning salon by her minister is definitely not a scene played out in my life. Thank goodness. I've also had momentary Scrooge moments. LOL. Right now, we're living a White Christmas moment with all the snow. How am I doing for avoiding the question as I don't know how to answer. LOL.

5. Is there a particular Christmas song that you're enjoying now? Any that you're tired of? Ilove most of them. I'm especially enjoying a whole CD of Christmas songs by Southern Alberta church that is quite rocky/jazzy. Angels We Have Heard on High is quite fun with a rock twist to it. I've always loved What Child is This. Never tire of that song. As for getting tired of one I could do without Santa Clause is coming to Town. It seems really overplayed around here.

6. What is your favorite way to remember those less fortunate at Christmastime? We usually give towards a local Street Mission at this time of year and to various food hampers given out at church. But my all time favorite is Operation Christmas Child. Click the button in my side bar if you don't happen to know what they are all about.

7. Does it upset you to see "Xmas" instead of Christmas? How about "Happy Holidays" etc., instead of "Merry Christmas?" Most definitely I personally say Christmas and Merry Christmas!! I calls a spade a spade. Christmas remembers and celebrates the birth of Jesus, plain and simple. When I really hate "Happy Holidays" is when it is forced upon employees to say and they get in trouble if they say Merry Christmas, so that they don't offend anyone. That bothers me.

8. How many Christmas programs are you attending this month? Only one! My daughter's ochestra recital and that was last Saturday. I remember a time when we were running all over the place attending programs and it really made Christmas very hectic.

9. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Any chance of that dream becoming a reality? Most definitely. Brown Christmas' are just not the same for this Canadian gal. Now I'm not talking blizzard, just some nice white snow.

10. Tell me about a Christmas present you received as a child. Pics are always nice. One of my favorite gifts was a hand made rocking cradle my dad had made for us girls. We each got one and our dolls never slept better than when in that cradle. :v) I wish now I would have kept it but they were given away.

11. How many Christmas parties are you attending this month? Not counting the family dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, a big whopping 2. And they are both over and done with.

12. How do you keep yourself centered on the significance of Christmas? Christmas music focusing on the true meaning of Christmas, devotionals that are centered on the Christmas story and by just trying to slow myself down and remind myself throughout the day what it's really all about.

Favorite Christmas Memory

Donnetta at My Quiet Corner is hosting a lovely posting party where you relate your favorite Christmas memory. The Linky went up yesterday and I know I'm a day late but it's such a heart warming idea I still want to join in. Why don't you join in too and tell us your favorite Christmas memory. Just click here to go to the post.

I had a very hard time narrowing it down, but I'll pick one from childhood and one from adulthood. That may be cheating, but I gotta do, what I gotta do.

My parents always made Christmas special, and I always remember a houseful of people, whether it was our house or someone elses. My Mom and Dad immigrated from Hungary and we have no relatives here in Canada at all, so my Godparents and my sister's Godparents, also from Hungary, were our family as they had no relatives here either. Every Christmas Eve, someone hosted the dinner, and there was always tons of food. My Dad would place a huge plywood sheet onto the table to make it bigger to accomodate everyone. The amount of food was crazy. Then after dinner we'd head to the living room to open gifts. We always opened gifts on Christmas Eve. One year my sis's Godparents hosted the dinner and as we were coming home late at night my Dad all of a sudden exclaimed he just saw Santa and his sleigh flying through the night sky. No matter how we tried we couldn't see it. But when we opened the door and went in the house, there under the tree were all sorts of presents that weren't there when we left the house. We always, always attended Midnight Service on Christmas Eve. And even though the church was filled to the rafters and extremely hot with all those bodies packed in, it was always a special memory for me with the big nativity at the front and special songs being sung. My favorite childhood memories always involve the special people who were our family.

My favorite adult memory is of course, recieving the best present ever. And that would be my daughter who was born at noon on Christmas Day, right after we opened our packaged presents at home. Her Dad was in the kitchen trying out his new waffle maker, and I was watching my music video I recieved as a gift when she decided she wanted to join us. She's always had great timing. LOL.

Please join us at My Quiet Corner with your favorite Christmas memory!

Friday's Fave Five #66

Updated with Mr. Linky! Sorry guys, I have no idea why Mr. Linky did come to the party. But he's here now!

Hello and welcome to another week of Friday's Fave Five! Hope you all are staying warm. If you're new, don't be afraid to join in, just go here for the details then grab the button and get started. We're always happy to have someone new join us.

1. A teen who does a chore without being asked. A nice treat when one of my teenagers will remember to do a chore such as unload the dishwasher or clean their rooms or wipe out a sink without me having to remind them or get on their case about it. Thanks guys.

2. Homemade Turtles Chocolates. A co-oworker of hubby's gave out homemade Turtles and he was kind enough to share one with me. Oh my word, they were good. Not overly sweet and very caramely and chocolatey and pecany. Yum!

3. Snow. Yes, the snow made my favorites list. Now I wasn't nuts about the way it came down, or the couple of absolutely frigid days in the -40's (celcius and farenheight) with the wind chill, but today was beautiful. Now I feel like it's the Christmas season.


And even as I type this I'm thinking of my friends down east in Ontario who are feeling the brunt of the storm now. Stay warm guys and stay inside until it passes.

4. Cozy sweaters and sweatshirts. Yup, those came out of the drawer this week and boy they were nice and certainly helped to keep me warm.

5. My clothes dryer. I know that is a funny thing to have on a favorites list, but this week when I was stuffing some clothes in to get dry, I remembered when I was a kid that my mom never used to have a dryer. I remember her hanging all the wash out on the line. Now that is lovely in the spring, summer and some of fall, and there certainly is no fabric softener or dryer sheet that can quite match that wonderful smell of fresh air and sunshine in your clothes and bedding. But I also remember in the winter her hands would be beet red and frozen from hanging the stuff out, and they never totally dried outside when it was really cold. They just froze and then she'd have to rehang them inside to finish drying. So my dryer made my favorites list.

What are your favorites for the week? If you've done a post, please sign the Mr. Linky so that we can come and visit.

Random Dozen Time

Look at Lid's (2nd Cup of Coffee) new, cute Christmas button! If you want to join the fun weekly, just hop on over here! It's worth it just to have the cute button on your blog! :v)

1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about? When I was in junior high I was teased mercilessly about my nose. I don't think about it anymore.

2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom? I really like Claire Huxtable. A strong lady who obviously really loves her hubby & family through thick and thin.

3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn? I speak enough Hungarian to get by. I don't know or understand the more complicated phrases but I'd be able to go over there and communicate enough to make myself understood. I have always wanted to learn to speak Spanish. It sounds so pretty to me. Around here in elementary school you have to take French in grade 4, 5 and 6. But I could never catch on to it. At junior high and senior high it optional. They also have schools where that's all you speak and all the work is done in french.

4. Who is your personal hero? I find this question hard. I don't know if I really hold any one up as a hero. But if I have to name somneone who has lots of qualities I really admire and wish I could be more like, maybe I'll say my friend who pastor's wife. She's a strong lady, who really loves the Lord and people. She accepts people where they are at and yet encourages and challenges them to keep going on with God and let Him change them and doesn't comprimise. That is so amazing to me. Even though she's is extremely busy, she has been there for me whenever I've needed her, even coming over with a meal and helping me with my dayhome when I broke my hand. She's incredibly giving. She has taught me a lot.

5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in? Uhm, that is a loaded question. LOL. I can't resist any holiday food, except maybe fruit cake or the oysters in the stuffing thing. I won't touch that stuff. But the rest? It's all there for the taking by moi.

6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value. I have several antique ornaments on my tree that were on our tree when I was growing up. A snowman, a bell and 3 glass pinecones. They are nothing fancy but they were my Mom's first ornaments. The snowman is older than I am. They just remind me of my childhood Christmas's which were always happy. Mr. Snowman's string finally broke this year so I have to fix him before I can put him on my tree.

Then there is this odd shaped, huge Christmas stocking. (The pic is from last year).

It's ultra special because coming up on 15 years ago on December 25th, they bought my most precious gift to me in that Christmas stocking. A beautiful, little girl. After she was born and they checked her out, Tia came all bundled up in that stocking complete with a little knitted Santa hat on her head and a Christmas card with her foot print on it. The most wonderful Christmas gift ever. Now she gets her birthday present, which I make sure to wrap in birthday paper first, tucked into that stocking.

7. How do you feel about snow? Love it. Except when it comes with 70 km/hr (45 mph) winds and -44*C (-42*F) temperatures. Other than that I love snow. A brown Christmas is just not the same. I mean what is not to love about seeing it fall and creating a pure, untouched, glistening field of fresh snow out your front window, at least before all the school children get to it.

8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything. I'm bad. I'm a night owl so I stay up way later than I should and am always running sleep deficit. I usually get between 6 1/2 to 7 hours. I should be getting at least 7 1/2 or 8.

9. Tell me about your first crush. The same as Miss Linda's, I believe. A certain young (back then) singer who just happened to win the latest edition of Dancing with the Stars.

10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw? I'm so boring. I probably would leave it alone. I'd rather read.

11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast? Both, it's called layering. And survival.

12. Favorite Christmas movie is? Probably "It's a Wonderful Life", the original b&w version. But I also love "A Christmas Carol" with Patrick Stewart and I'm suspecting the new 3D "A Christmas Carol" will be amongst the faves too. It's pretty awesome. I also love "Christmas with the Kranks" and "Elf".

They Have Arrived

Well, it isn't a dog sled. Although they do line up all in a row.

Or a St. Bernard. No little keg around it's neck.

But the Calvary has arrived!

Also known as the grater and the snow plow.

Aren't they a sight to behold! I wonder if they could do something about that pile by my deck?

Now we just need to wait for the trucks that will pick up the 3 1/2 - 4 foot pile of snow running down the middle of the road.

Maybe tomorrow.

And if you're not sure why the sight of these machines make me do the happy dance, read this morning's post below.

Winter Wonderland to the Extreme

I love a White Christmas! There is something about having snow for Christmas that is just icing on the cake of a wonderful holiday. It just doesn't seem the same if it's a "brown" Christmas.

But seriously now. This was just a tad extreme. Not quite what I had in mind. Friday morning it was beautiful outside. By noon the sky turned grey and the wind started to pick up a bit. By afternoon the snow started. As all of Alberta was under a blizzard warning we weren't surprised.

But then by Saturday it got crazy. Winds got up to 70 km/hr (about 43 mph). The problem wasn't so much the falling snow, but that plus the blowing snow combined. Highways were shut down. Cities came almost to a stand still. At least 6 cars got stuck by Saturday afternoon in front of my house as they tried to make room to pass each other and the snow on the side out of the worn path sucked them in. Bad news. More bad news? Minimum 2 hour wait on a tow truck.

The drift. Oh the drift! You had to be here. That is snow blowing off my roof onto my deck. Yes, it's up to my patio table. My poor dog held it in. I'm sure I saw his legs crossing at some point. Then he braved the blowing snow and it was a quick trip out let me tell you. He had a little path we managed to shovel out for him. And he did not waste anytime.

I don't know if you can see by this pic but the drifted snow is higher than my deck. How many days it'll take to shovel that out no one knows. No going through that gate for awhile, I guess.

I noticed none of you all sent a dog sled or a St. Bernard to my rescue like I requested. So no Christmas shopping for me even though my to do list was a mile long for this weekend. But a sweet young man with an ATV with a shovel on the front came around and helped push my friend onto my driveway when she got high centered. He used that thing to shovel the end of my driveway off so that that wouldn't happen again and then he did a few passes in front of our house so cars could park without getting stuck and then that young man literally shovelled off his whole street so that cars could get in and out without getting stuck. Bless his heart! I'm sure there were angel wings tucked under his winter parka somewhere.

So instead of shopping, I spent the weekend inside. I lit my balsalm candle, my youngest made us frothy hot mocha's, we turned on the electric fireplace (hey, it's better than nothing!) and we put up the tree and watched "The Secret Garden", "It's a Wonderful Life" & "Christmas with the Kranks". Now that is cozy comfort to the extreme. And I do have 2 shopping weekends left, right?

Photo Hunters ~ Curved

This week's Photo Hunter theme is curved. It was a little hard. I had no idea what to photograph. Then last night, as the blizzard howled outside, I tried to get cozy inside. I made my tea, lit my Christmas tea lights and there was my curvy. The pretty pattern on candle holders is defintely curved.


For more curved photos see Photo Hunters.

Friday's Fave Five #65

1. This fun website I found this week. Sorta fun to browse around and get some ideas.

2. Stash Pumpkin Spice Tea. So good. I saw it at the store last night and just knew I had to get it in preparation for the blizzard that is on it's way this afternoon and tonight. Yup, we got a warning out for most of Alberta. I guess no Christmas shopping tomorrow night. I'll be sitting home curled up with a large cup of this tea and a book and a good movie or two.

3. Friends who encourage you and bring out the best in you. I've really appreciated friends this week who encouraged me as I was nervous about getting up in front of people. It's great having them behind me. Makes me feel like I can do anything challenging with them along. I hope I am that kind of friend to them too.

4. Seeing an old friend I haven't seen in for about 10 years. The speaker at the Ladies Night was an old friend. It seemed we picked up where we left off, laughing and reminiscing and catching up. I've got to make a point of staying in touch.

5. Christmas Scented Candles. I love the scents of Christmas candles. Cinnamon, Candy Cane, Balsam, Pine. And I got a new one: Canadiana Christmas. Wow, I wish I could send the smell through the computer. So good.

So that's a wrap up for this week. I've got a busy weekend ahead. My sister's birthday today. Hopefully it won't be blizzarding so bad that we can't go for cake and ice cream. But if it is, I've got the tea kettle and movie ready to go. Saturday I plan on putting up the tree which is always an experience in itself. Hopefully you've had a good week. If not sometimes the best exercise there is is to look for the little things that were favorites. What were yours this week? If you've done a post please sign up on the Mr. Linky (connecting to the post and not your home page, please) so that we can come and visit. Have a great weekend. If you don't hear from me by Monday please send a dog sled or a St. Bernard or something. :v)

Oh, and a quick mention and a little link that I'm looking forward to next week. Join Donnetta at My Quiet Corner on December 14th and share your favorite Christmas memory.

Come and Gone for Another Year

Well, it's over for another year. Our Ladies Christmas Party at church has come and gone. This is the only large crowd Christmas party that I will be going to this year. Which is sort of nice because some years there have 3 or 4 that we had to attend and it was just too much. As the "official" door prize collector and giver-awayer, it was busy but lots of fun. I actually didn't do anything silly like trip going back and forth from the microphone, or say something I regretted out of nervousness, or stood in front of everyone with some article of clothing askew. Not that any of that stuff has ever happened to me. Ahem. There was a couple of strange moments when after I drew a name and called it out two different women came running up. Two women out of a hundred there that night that had the exact same first and last name. What are the odds? And then the other one was as I was calling out names another lady comes walking by right in front of me, I was on the floor not the stage, and she starts asking me to get her a chair to sit near the front for the play and to announce some things. LOL. Makes you have to think fast on your feet.

Today however, I woke up with a whopping headache. I think a combo of excitement, nervousness, running around all day trying to get things done, combined with no coffee due to a durn blood test and not eating thanks to the same and then not having time to eat until I ate at the party, it just all "goes to my head". Literally. So I'm nursing that this morning and hopefully the kids won't be in too much of a rowdy mood. Today we'll probably make a candle they can take home. Something that involves lots of glue and glitter sounds good.

So how is your Christmas season kicking off? Have the parties started yet for you or are you skipping those this year? Is your tree up and your shopping done? Or are you one of the "I don't want to think about it until the last week" kind of personalities?

Random Dozen with the Lid

Join Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee for this week's Random Dozen. I'm sorry Lid, it's not letting me link to the specific post, just the home page.

1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like? I've never really been into the Wizard of Oz. I only watched it once as a kid. But from what I can remember I'll say the cowardly lion. Because sometimes I could really use some courage. Other times I feel like the wicked witch of the west. Yes, those PMS days will do that to a person.

2. When you're deciding what you're going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why? Jeans are a given each day so I'll a top.

3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without? Does an insect count? Because I'm going to say Wasps, definitely Wasps.

4. How many Christmas trees are in your home? At this very moment? None. We put ours up the first weekend so that's coming on Saturday. But there will be two. The main one and then my daughters small one in her room.

5. Would you prefer to be emotionless if it mean you didn't have to feel a heartbreak? I am such an emotion geared person I can't imagine life without emotions but if I could I don't think I would prefer that. Because then I also couldn't feel joy, love, a mother's pride, and all those good ones. I thik life would be pretty boring and we'd be like automaton's just doing what needed to get done. Even though heartbreak is hard, I'll take them all.

6. Do you ever experience holiday let-down or depression? Not really but I'm close to someone who does go through it before the holidays and it's not an easy thing.

7. Do you like Michael Jackson's music? Some, though I owned any of his albums.

8. Why is it that we never judge people who have their teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons, but every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma? Wow, that is one hard, loaded question. I never thought of it that way and I have no idea why.

9. Enjoy horseback riding? Haven't rode in more than 20 years, and only rode once or twice in my life but I remember liking it but also being really scared.

10. Shoes--practical or stylish? Mostly practical but there's got to be a couple hot shoes in every girls closet!

11. What was the name of your first pet? Feel free to post a pic. I think our first pet was a bird when I was really little. I remember my mom telling me I used to be afraid of it landing on my head. Our next one was a rabbit that my sis talked my Dad into letting her have. It was the cutest thing. We gave it the totally creative name of Thumper.

12. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done? Seeing we're trying to take it easy this year, I'd say I'm pretty much 80% done. Pretty much just my sis and my Mom left to shop for. I've even got the birthday girl's stuff done. Shhhh. Don't tell.