The Countdown is On!!

Tsunami Dollars and You

The Tsunami tragedy of 2004 has always been particularally heart-wrenching for me, I feel rather connected to it and the work being done in it's wake.
There's news out yesterday from the BBC that is quite distressing - only about half the money donated to the relief/rebuild effort, has actually been spent. The rest is sitting pretty in bank accounts, some 3 billion US dollars! And about 10% of all the money that was promised to the effort by foreign governments has never been given! (China, Spain and France promised 301, 60 and 79 million respectively and have each given only 1 million!)
This is a problem, a big problem! Of the millions of people left displaced only 1/3 of their homes have been replaced - that means 2/3 are still living in temporary shelters - like tents! And that isn't acceptable.
The Red Cross in particular was given 2.2 billion for its efforts and has only used half of that total, and built (to completion) 8000 of their promised 50,000 homes. In response to criticism and questioning the Red Cross has made some valid points:

1. They knew and reported from the very beginning that their efforts would be long-term and rebuilding was a 4-5 year process, not an instant deal.
2. They talk about the efforts necessary in figuring out land claims and proper ownership before homes can be built.

Obviously they are right - this is a long-term response. The question is how long is appropriate - how long can we wait to give people back their homes when the money is in the bank? What do you think?? Check here for an article on the BBC report and a movie clip of the BBC news itself. Check em out and see. Do we have a responsibility to say something about this??

The Adventures of One $200 Lumina

My car has been the source of much stress these last couple days - it may infact have passed into the hereafter...
Two times now, yes twice this same event has happened to me - on Sunday on my way to church and last night on my way to Choir, my car has lost power and come to a complete stop in the middle of Resources Rd, and refused to be started. And for those of you who aren't familiar with said road, know that it is a 70km/hr road, with few lights and intersections. Perhaps I should just stay off of Resources Rd.
Now you may wonder why after the first breakdown I was driving the wretched beast again - well by Sunday afternoon, (after being towed), my precious little Lafawndah started and drove without a hitch. Nothing could be found wrong, and so I took my life into my hands and tried it all again...
The whole thing has been rather taxing - first, the stress I go through, and put others through when these sorts of events happen, and second, the arm-and-leg it cost to get my car towed (the first time), third the time it took to tow it ourselves (the second time), and now it sits dead-in-the-water at my folks place.
God has been more faithful to provide for me than I can explain to you here, my dad and Ben's mechanical skills, and even little Lafawndah was a great gift. I have one month left here in GP and with it - work, church, life... God knows my needs, and I know that He will continue to provide.

The One, The Only: Studio Y?

Alright so I'm competing with Jeremy for who's gonna show the most Studio Y? Love... And I know you've all checked out the link on the side but I wanna give you the inside scoop on the best family theatre/dance production in the Great White North!
So once a month a mighty force gathers to put on Studio Y? a big show for the last Sunday of the month - complete with; a quirky but lovable cast, a crew of crazy Undignified dancers, guest storytellers, two rather absent-minded hosts, and my favourite - some hilarious, cutting-edge videos! Sometimes I get the chance to be involved - or just watch the dress rehearsals, and no matter how many times I see the same sketchs I gotta tell you - I'm usually still pee-my-pants laughing! (Don't worry no accidents yet!)

So follow the links to get the latest news and keep up-to-date, and if any of you are EVER in the GP area for the last Sunday of the month - I urge you, drop EVERYTHING and RUN - do not walk - to the Church of Christ on Resources Rd for 10:00am or 6:30pm! You will be glad you did.
Next Studio Y?... January 28th, 2007!

Christmas Party I

What is more Canadian then ice-hockey on a frozen lake?? Nothing!
Incidently we weren't playing ice-hockey - but we were skating. We had some chilly fun with our Jr-High kids on Friday night!

Christmas Party II

Some serious faces after one funky night of 2-Stepping, Smooth, East-Coast-Swing and Triple-2!
It's Joe, me, Jessica and Jordan. Apparently I need a J-name.

Christmas Party III

So we had a bunch of really fun Christmas parties this weekend! And what Christmas party is complete without hours of DANCING?!




And we taught a very fantastically fun Mixer-dance!



Here's me and my big bro dancing (I had to teach him the ropes). And apparently I have a lazy eye...

I Have a Stethoscope!

I got a gift yesterday!!
I have my very first infant/adult stethoscope!! And it's pretty and purple!!

A huge thanx to the Norris' - you're so generous!!

Musings on Christmas - Part 2

A while back I mused on the Christmas story and told you there would be more - well here is that promised more. On the weekend I had the chance to see The Nativity Story, and then I went and saw it again on Monday!
Here's what I'm saying:
GO SEE THE NATIVITY STORY IN THEATRES!!!
The reason I saw this movie twice (and may need to see it again), is that it is teaching me enormous things about God. It is so incredibly and deeply moving my heart and I think it will move you too! When I got home the first night I took out my journal and filled pages with all that was going on in my head. Basically this movie is a MUST-SEE! (I will not bother to review it at all I only say that I recognize that some liberty was taken for dramatic effect, I'm fine with that!)
So onto the enormous things I am learning about our LORD who spread out the Heavens and know the hairs on my head - here's the biggest thing:
- the Christ child came and lived in the smallest way! He, the Ultimate HE did not "demand and cling to His rights as God, but made Himself nothing and took the humble position of a slave." Christ did not come with big headlines in the papers, he did not hold press conferences or revival meetings. He didn't have a state-of-the-art website or the most Myspace friends ever. He just didn't, and that wasn't a marketing mistake! Christ came in the smallest, crudest, most pitiful manner. To an unwed mother, to a couple of kids who were probably terrified at what lay before them. He came and called a small gathering of ragamuffins to his side. He went on no world tours. This Christ child, who came and saved the WORLD, actually went very few places, knew very few people and acted in really, really small ways! What am I learning about God right now?? I am learning that He is the Humble King!
As I have said before - this whole story speaks so deeply, straight into my heart. Mary was met by an angel and answered “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” I wonder and awe at her complete obedience and faith - in the midst of such shock, confusion, fear and emotional upset!! The whole idea of the Christ, growing inside her womb! Ahhhh! Maybe it's because I'm a girl, maybe it's because I'm a midwife, maybe it's because I'm so stinking emotional... Whatever the reason, God's story has captivated me!
I pray that it captivates you too!