Monday, April 27, 2009

A Bug's Life Redux

It is bug season again, warm enough for bugs to start crawling there way out of hiding places in our house, oh joy! A few times this last week I've been reminded of a blog I did in early September 2006, I re-read it and had a good laugh, so I thought I'd post it again, in honor of bug season. Hope you enjoy revisiting my nightmare with me : )

Only since being in this old house have I been brave enough to finally kill some insects. Before I would use the ol’ coax-the-bug-on-a-piece-of-paper-then-cover-it-with-a-container-to-trap-it-without-touching-it-then-flinging-it-down-the-toilet-method. Or the scream for hubby method. But this house has just too many spiders so I had to learn to take some action myself. Well now it seems the insect kingdom is conspiring to overload me with heebie geebies and send me running for good (as if I am not already running from them as much as possible). Yesterday morning I had to kill a pretty big spider even before I got in the shower, not even fully awake yet I managed, and then I’m just about to step into the shower and see a spider TWICE its size is trying to escape up the slippery slope of the tub! I drowned him in scalding hot water without even having to get in, mwuhahahaha! Then later that evening we went to 7-11 and as we stepped off our porch I noticed a spider spinning a web from our overhang. And not just any spider, not just a BIG spider, a friggin’ SAC spider, the most vile of all spiders! I DETEST sac spiders, they gross me out so much I can’t even look at them.
Side bar – and sac spiders are evil, my good friend Cathy told me a story about how 15 years ago-ish, when her sons were little, and they came across a sac spider and started poking it with a little twig. The spider TOOK THE STICK AWAY FROM THEM! This is not a friend who exaggerates, I promise you. Scary stuff.
Anyway, so because the sac spider was spinning a web it started doing this weird vibrating thing, which is giving me the creepy crawlies just thinking about it, BLECH!! So hubby saved the day by projectile spitting and on the second try managed to connect and it flung the spider somewhere, which I did not stick around to find out, but I ordered him to find it and squish it. Yes, that’s right, I ORDERED him! So once we leave the risk filled wilderness that is our house and yard, and are in the safety of our friendly neighbourhood 7-11, I thought the coast was clear, I could let my guard down and relax in a nice, clean, hygienic store, with a yummy chocolaty latte and treat myself with the yummy chocolate marshmallows to make up for my traumatic day. I’m a bit of a glutton when it comes to chocolate, so a little was not enough...I shake out a few...I need more...I shake out a little more...I need more...I shake and a WASP comes out and lands on my latte!!! Paralyzed with fear I again ORDERED hubby to find a way to get rid of it as I backed as far away as possible! I’m normally not this bossy, but bugs do strange things to me, which is ok, hubby understands me and was my hero, one of the many reasons I love him. So, yeah, half a heart attack later, I am free of the death trap formerly known as Sev, with my stinger-free latte (but sadly I was not brave enough for marshmallows again), but not without the fear that all bugs are out to get me.
And I was right, because only a week later I had another night of the living creepy crawlies. Its revenge of the bugs I tell you! The nightmare continues, I am not even safe where I sleep. The porch, and back room, and bathroom are one thing, but I need to be safe in my own bed. But alas, I now know I am not.
First I’m lying in bed reading, all relaxed and chilling with my good book, and I roll over to get more comfortable when who should decide to join my quiet time? A sneaky little spider creeping over the edge of the bed right in front of my face! Little spiders aren’t all that scary comparatively anymore, but sneaking onto my bed like that just about sent me flying! I could get seriously hurt moving that fast, and if I had claws I would have been hanging from the ceiling Tom & Jerry style! But it didn’t end there.
Wasps are particularly bad this year, we’ve found a few buzzing around our back room, but now I have found one upstairs in the bedroom. It was crawling so I watched it for awhile, hoping it couldn’t fly. It seemed I was right so I felt brave and thought I might actually have a chance at killing it myself if it can’t fly. I hate furthering the stereotype that girls are helpless, so I swallowed my every instinct to flail and scream for hubby, and instead found the nearest big object that could squish it with. I flung down the back side of my brush, hard as I could, on the black and yellow pain with wings, not even sure of the plush carpet allowed for sufficient squishage, so I held it down with pressure that turned my knuckles white for more than a minute. I slowly lifted the brush to see if I succeeded in a kill, but my nemesis was merely dazed and confused and a little flatter, so I quickly slammed the brush down again, breaking it in the process. I still managed to hold it down for another minute or two, because I couldn’t bear to look again, but I summoned all my courage and looked to see the wasp in a very non-dead state. Looking around the room to find something I could squish it with for the third time, I came up empty so I looked for something to scoop it up with instead so I could run and flush it before it became re-oriented and capable of moving. The handle of the broken brush was hollow and convenient so I used it to quickly pick it up and covered the top with some nearby Kleenex. Feeling pretty proud of myself I just moved to leave the room when I noticed a hole in the end of my cheap brush, and there I could see my recovering foe in the hollowed out end of the brush! I panicked and flung the wasp back on the carpet so I could cover it with the brush again, so I could find a more secure mode of transportation to the water bowl of death. Unfortunately the only thing within reaching distance, just barely (as I had to keep my hand pushing the brush down onto the wasp), was a cup, but I had no choice, and that cup would get a thorough washing. So I finally managed to scoop the resilient bugger up, covered the cup with Kleenex and ran down to the bathroom and sacrificed him with a triumphant flush! I went to brag to the man that despite my almost nauseating fear and near paralysis I conquered the wasp with no stings. He of course had to ruin my moment and tell me wasps don’t sting, they bite, so unlike bees their defence isn’t a onetime shot and then they are dead, they can bite and bite and bite some more until I’M dead! I told him next time, to heck with being brave, I’m going to play the silly helpless girl and he does the remainder of the Crocodile Hunter stunts!

Accountability - Health Tracker

% of goal April 20-25
Calories 100%
Moderate Exercise 117%
Vigourous Exercise 51%
Water 82%
Fruits & Vegis 86%
Dairy 71%
Vitamins 100%
God Time 100%

2 lbs lost

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The Prize


Imagine.
Imagine you found out about a contest where you can win the greatest prize you've ever heard of. Not JUST a car or a boat. Not JUST a free trip to wherever you want. Not JUST a million dollars, or twenty or a hundred million dollars! Or any combination of all of the above. It's better.
You get to choose your perfect life and it gets made into reality. Money is no object, whatever you want.
You get to choose the type of work you do without having to worry about money because you'll have absolutely NO bills to pay. You can do whatever you've always wanted to do just for the joy of it, just because you want to do what you are good at. The only compensation you are concerned about is being able to use your talents and skills to make a difference to someone, somewhere. And you don't have to worry about juggling between work and life outside of work, you set your own hours, you only have to work when you aren't busy with other things, but of course you still work because it's something you love to do. Work is truly enjoyable.
Of course, not having bills to pay is just the beginning of this new kind of financial freedom. You don't just have limitless money to spend on what you want, it goes beyond that. Your home is custom made for you and your needs, no more no less. Every day your kitchen is filled with the freshest and healthiest, choice meats, vegetables, fruits, and if you aren't a fan of cooking all your meals will be cooked for you, any dish you could want to try. Your community is beautiful, surrounded by colorful and fragrant orchards and gardens, fresh and vibrant, a magnificent experience to be around every day. No matter where you choose to live you are surrounded by people you love, people you actually share your life with, a community that works together for the benefit of everyone. You share your possessions, homes, experiences, values, beliefs. Community at its best.
And the prize makes pretty much anything you want to do happen, just like that. Earth becomes one small community, you can go anywhere you want, you can be part of any crowd. Join the musicians for jam sessions, just to listen or participate. Join wildlife experts on expeditions to study and help animals, up close and personal. You name it; art, athletics, writing, drama, history, culinary arts, crafting, photography, socializing, nature hikes, exploring, adventure/thrill seeking, games/rides, the possibilities for how you spend your days are endless.
The prize. You couldn't ask for more.
The prize consumes you, the possibilities, the expectation, the desire. Everyday life becomes so pale in comparison. The best homemade meal, the best day at work, the best night out, the best long weekend, the best gathering of the best of your friends, the best vacation trip, all great moments but they leave you longing for more.
What if you had to wait an indeterminate time for the prize, a qualifying period lets say? Would you still enter the contest? OF COURSE you would! What if people who hadn't heard of such a contest, or people who couldn't believe in such a wonderful contest, ridiculed you? Would you still enter the contest? You might do some more research, but after being shown very compelling evidence the contest is real, you confidently enter the contest.
Now, you are about to enter the contest, you're going to answer the skill testing question, and before you do you first have to be made aware of the 'fine print' or the legalities. There is a guide book you should read to help with the qualifying period, but you will do what it takes to win, you are eager to read it. So you do, and you find out that there will be a cost, that there will be sacrifices to be made in order to win the prize. Do you still think trying to qualify is worth it? Giving up the life you currently live for the perfect life? Imperfection for perfection is how you see it, so yes, you still want the prize. And reading further, you realize your involvement in this contest, your desire for the prize will set you apart from some people, many people? Do you still think qualifying is worth it? What you will share with a wonderful community will far outweigh any seperation you feel from people in the interm, so yes, you still want the prize. The promise of the prize has made you unattached from everything most people cling to, and you are willing to give it all up.
Good news. This prize is real.
There is a perfect life waiting for you that makes this one pale in comparison. There is a perfect life that you should drive you to endure anything to attain it. There is a 'skill testing' question that promises the prize of a perfect life. The question is, do you believe in and accept Jesus Christ's gift of salvation, accept His promise of spending a perfect life in eternity with Him?

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Time to get busy!

Well, my definition of busy is very laid back compared to a lot of you : ) but my next month and a half is about to get a little crazy for me!
First, there is a chance I get to babysit both my neices overnight this weekend, and then take them to the circus with my sister. I really hope it happens, it will be a blast if it works out! I haven't had the girls for night before, never mind two of them :) Should be interesting!
At my job, our office is having an Open House on April 29th, for the grand opening of our new location, and so being one of only 2 admin, I am going to be a very busy girl over the next week and a bit! Gotta get the office into tip top shape (yes, it's still under "construction"), you know how it is when you first move into a place, boxes stay unpacked for months! It will be fun though, kinda like a tail gate party (it's football themed, because we LOVE football). The new Bomber head coach will even be here.
Then, May 11th Sean heads off to Las Vegas for a work conference, it's about time he got a trip, and I'm glad he gets to go to Vegas, that's the best place I was ever sent on a work trip. Maybe next time we can go together. So while he's away, the wife will play ; ) I am attempting to have a 'party' (product-oriented of course) for some girls at my place, but the details are not finalized so I won't discuss that yet.
There are a couple of birthdays near the end of May in our family, so there is sure to be some celebrations going on around the long weekend.
Then, I am participating in the Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Winnipeg May 29th, 2009. We are putting together a team at work because Cancer is one of the causes we donate our time and money to. Not only did I want to participate because it's a great team building event (like our Habitat for Humanity build was last year), but Cancer is a disease it seems no one can escape, someone always knows someone who has been affected by it. Personally, I found out about cancer at about the age of 5. Our neighbor, one of my best friends, her sister had cancer. She never seemed to be home because she was usually in the Ronald McDonald house due to treatment, so I didn't get to see the real painful side of it until she passed away a year or so later, and I went to my first funeral (that I can remember), and the only funeral I've ever been to for a child. Then there is my grandmother who had ovarian cancer, which has mostly unnoticeable symptoms so by the time they diagnosed her it was too far along and she only lived another 3 months. And then Sean's dad died of bone cancer in 2005 after a short year and a half struggle. Bone cancer runs in his family and has also killed a few of Sean's uncles. And that is just the cases close to me, of course there have been other friends who have family touched by breast cancer. So, I'm excited to raise money for this terrific cause, and if you also care about Cancer prevention, support and research, please visit my pledge page!
THEN!
Less than a week later we are jetting off to Nashville, Tennessee for a week of vacation! I'm so excited, we are not only in Country Music country (hoping for some celebrity sightings/ performances) but we are also going to what is known among Ted Dekker fans as The Gathering. Ted Dekker, if you don't know by now is my favorite author, and now one of Sean's favorites as well (hehe, I got him addicted), and he has this fan event just 30 min. south of Nashville on June 6th that we are just over the moon about being able to attend. It will be the highlight of our trip, no doubt! I can hardly contain my excitement, as there is a very great chance I will get to meet him, get his autograph, and the event itself sounds just amazing!
So, now that I am SO 'on the go', I am very glad my 'on the go' computer arrived yesterday! My laptop will make it much easier to stay in touch during this very busy time, and I am so excited for that! I hope much more blogging is in my near future, because I have sooooo much to write about these days!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Musical Mondays

I run from hate
I run from prejudice
I run from pessimists
But I run too late

I run my life
Or is it running me
Run from my past
I run too fast
Or too slow it seems

When lies become the truth
That's when I run to you


This world keeps spinning faster
Into a new disaster so
I run to you
I run to you Jesus

And when it all starts coming undone
Jesus you're the only one I run to
I run to you


We run on fumes
Your life and mine
Like the sands of time
Slippin' right on through

And our love's the only truth
That's why I run to you


This world keeps spinning faster
Into a new disaster so
I run to you
I run to you Jesus
And when it all starts coming undone
Jesus you're the only one I run to
I run to you


~Lady Antebellum ('Jesus' replaced 'Baby' by me)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

I was Boneman's Daughter

I came across this and wept.

As I was reading my favorite author's blog I found his story about why he wrote his latest book Boneman's Daughter, how it was a personal story of his own daughter, and I wept over the father's perspective of losing his daughter to the Boneman. I was Boneman's daughter for a time being and although my dad didn't know it until long after, I know there was definately a weeping room in my parent's house while I was with him. It's been about just over 2 years since I confessed to my family about my time with the Boneman, and I know it is a distant pain, they've told me so, but I can't help but feel my heart rip in two at the thought of what I put them through over 13 years ago when I became Boneman's daughter.

I will weep when I read this book, I'm sure, but I want to read it even more because of that.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Doing Him Justice

I was on such a roll there for awhile and although God hasn't stopped giving me wonderful images and stories I want to share, I'm having difficulty doing them justice.
It's kinda funny in one sense, because they are usually just a "flash", a picture, a few words and so you'd think it would be easy to convey, but it testifies to the AWESOMENESS of God, that I can't even come close to capturing how/what He made me feel in words. He spoke to me so deeply, He said so much, all in that little "flash".
It's strange and wonderful, yet I'm still perplexed at how I am going to share what He wants me to share. I usually don't struggle for words but now I am. Maybe I'm over thinking it. I'm going to keep working on them until I think I've got it, I just wanted you to know I'm still here, still thinking about the truth, still trying to share it as best I can!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Musical Mondays

We'll do it all, everything, on our own
We don't need anything or anyone
If I lay here If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world

I don't quite know how to say how I feel
Those three words are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace to remind me to find my own
If I lay here If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes
They're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
I just know that these things
Will never change for us at all
If I lay here If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
And just forget the world

- Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

Thursday, April 9, 2009

"Things you want your kids to know" Thursday

I want my children, my neices and nephew, all children to know, don't be in such a hurry to grow up, most adults yearn to have all the blessings you have. Carefree, playfulness, imagination, innocence, and optomism are just a few reasons, but I want the faith of a child. I want:

Unwaivering belief in the unseen!

Security in knowing I am loved & looked after!

A humble realization of my dependency!

Belief that I have am specially made for a purpose!

A desire to get ALL the answers from my Father!

To trust in (His) authority & obey unquestioningly!
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