Weekend Shenanigans/Life Lately/Misc Monday

Happy Monday!! I hope everyone had a good wknd. Mine was pretty good!!

Friday; I spent the last of my (our) money on a 7-11 coffee. Let me tell you, 7-11 PSL's are actually pretty good! And a lot cheaper than Starbucks:) So, I went to work, and had a quiet day, and then ran some errands; I checked on my mags that I couldn't buy (BOO!), and went to our Associate Pastor's wife to talk about the Sunday School Program. I had fun playing with her little boys:) They are so sweet. We ended up getting invited out to dinner with our friends/mentors for a belated bday dinner for Anker. We had a great supper and chat. Went home, and hung out, then our neighbour asked if I wanted to go to W!nners. We had a nice time wandering around. Came home and relaxed and went to bed.

Saturday; Relaxed in the morning, and then met up with my Avon Mentor to chat about how to build my business

She bought me a Timmie's coffee. Isn't that sweet? I then went and met up with my coffee ladies. One of the girls bought me an iced tea. We had a nice chat, and I came home, fully intending to have a nap. Instead, we watched some of Skating on TV, and I did my nails in some Nail Art (Which I already have shown on here)

I still have a few of them on my nails, and it has been over 48 hours, so they aren't that bad, really.

Around 4o'clock, we went to our church's fall fair. I dressed up as a pumpkin. Well, I didn't dress up as a pumpkin as much as I had pumpkin colours on:)

You can't tell from this picture, but my pants are green. I am also wearing my pumpkin socks.

 

Usually each year our church holds some kind of Halloween/Hallejuah party in or around Halloween. The last couple of years, however, they have gone one up, and made it more of a fair, with booths, and popcorn, slushies, etc. I think they had 150 last year, and probably around the same this year. We have 4 churches (including our) that meet in our building (at different times and in different rooms), and last year one other church joined us, and this year, another church (different) church joined in with us. It was a great time. I was almost sad to leave in the middle of it.

 

The fall fair was a blast!

I was put in charge of the Pumpkin Carving Booth

 

 

 

 

Here are some more pics from the fair.

 

                                                             Carnival food at it's best:)

                                      Several different booths were set up in the church foyer.

Planko and Fish Pond.

Putt-Putt Golf (I manned this last year).

 

Around 6:30, I went to my mom's Book Launch. I told them I could come, but only if they bought me a drink:) It was a fun evening (Anker stayed back at the church, as he was in charge of the fireworks).

It was held at Earl's. She had her banner up and everything:)

                                                        Sante Fe Chicken Salad. Yum.

Everyone who was there:)

One of my mom's best friend on her left, and Dad's cousin (and Mom's friend) to her right.

Dad making his speech.

Mum and Me:)

The oh so yummy cheesecake:)

Mom and her book:) And yes, we took this in front of the fire outside the restaurant.

 

This is her book up close.

 

 

The party went until 8:30, then I went back to the church to pick up hubby, and we went home. We just relaxed in the evening.

 

Sunday, I went to church, and came home and made some lunch. I am trying to be creative and semi healthy on what food we have left.

 

I came up with this for Sunday lunch. It was ok; not great.

It was kind of like a Goolash. Yum.

 

We spent the rest of the day watching movies; The Kings Speech (we have it, but we borrowed my parents, as their copy has the extras), The Solist, and Taken. They were all good movies. I also started on Downton Abbey Season 3 last night. I am loving the season so far!

 

Linking up with Blair

 

Linking up with Carissa

 

And don't forget my Fall Followers Giveaway:) I am at 23 followers (Thanks to Cassie @ Take Two for being my most recent follower), and the 25th follower will get an Avon prize from me:)

 

I am really excited to expand my Avon business:) My mentor gave me some great ideas on where I can drop off brochures and Avon Business cards.

 

Today I spent some time driving Mom around town, so she could drop off some posters for her upcoming workshop related to her book.  I have to admit, I was a bit grumpy and frustrated when we started out (not because of that, just because of life in general), but after awhile, I started to get into it. Mom is going to be on TWO local radio shows in the next while talking about her book. Yay! I am so proud of her!! When we were done, Mom treated me to Starbucks, which always makes me happy. In fact, when we got inside, mom said "are you happy?" To which I replied "YES". haha.

  I came home to find hubby had already started supper. It wasn't a healthy (or Meatless Monday) supper, but it was good:)

Hot dogs and Fries.

 

Has anyone tried the GIRAFFE CHALLENGE on FB?

Here it is : 

I've changed my profile pic to a giraffe. I tried to answer a riddle and got it wrong. Try the great giraffe challenge!

So here's the rules. Answer the riddle. You get it right nothing changes. Get it wrong and you change your profile pic to a giraffe for three (3) days.
MESSAGE ME YOUR ANSWERS ONLY! PLEASE DONT RUIN THE FUN BY TELLING OTHERS THE ANSWER!!

Here is the riddle!
3:00AM the doorbell rings and you wake up. Unexpected visitors, its your parents and they are there for breakfast. You have strawberry jam, honey, wine, bread and cheese. What is the first thing you open?

Message me your answers and see if you get to keep your profile pic on FB?

 

There also is a donkey challenge going on as well:)

(FYI: this is why I don't often feel like blogging, as this took me over an hour to do).

 

Happy Monday!

 

As usual, I this is too long with too many pics...am sorry:(

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Great IS our God?/Fear

Please note: this is a real, raw, and slightly negative post. Please do not send me hate emails. If you don't like reading posts like this, the move on to another blog:)


I thought I am (and should) due for a  "real" blog post. You know, the one that makes you laugh and cry. The one that moves you:)

This week seems to be really crazy busy, and I have no clue as to what with or why. Next wk is going to be CRAZY! Like, if I have time to blog, I will be surprised:)

Over the wknd, I came across this video, which is one of my favourite songs. I am always moved when I sing/see/hear it. Then I got to thinking; how great IS our God? I have to admit. I have a problem. I have a hard time with how great our God is bit. I hope that it is not disrespecting Him. I am not. I just have a hard time with it. I don't see His goodness/greatness. I mean, in the every day/small things (which is of course, important, too), but nothing major (or even fairly big) has happened lately. I am still working where I am working, and no new jobs have come up. I have student loans to start paying off next month. How am I going to pay that off with what we are making now? Didn't I go to school so I could make more money?? Yah. Nice one, April. Smart girl you are!

I am stressed to the max. I haven't even gone for coffee to relax (other than yesterday with hubby) in ages. I seem to be constantly be busy, and when I am not busy, I feel guilty that I am not. I know I need to rest. In Him. And with myself (does that sound too New-Age-y??) There is constantly too much TV to watch (I **must** watch), too many books to read, Bible study to do (ahem, and read the Bible), too many magazines to read, too many errands to go. Too many place to go. Too much house to clean :)

But I am digressing (again)...Back to my point...I want to believe that God can do all things, but I just feel that He isn't. I feel like He has forgotten us. I thought that going to school would open more doors. Instead, it is (or will) open more debt. I am not making any more financially, so it is going be bad, if we don't tighten our budget. I don't know what God has in store for us. I wonder if God is even listening. Am I talking to a brick wall? Does He even care or listen? Doesn't he want the best for us?

I am tired. I want a break. I want something good, and exciting to happen. Nothing big. I don't need to go to Africa yet. I don't need to be moved across the country. I just want a decent job that I enjoy and that can help us live. We don't live richly. Yes, we buy things we probably shouldn't, but we don't buy in excess, either. I do buy magazines, and things for our house when I see cool things that would match. I do buy CD's and books, etc from work. But I, too, am careful, and try to limit on how much.

People talk about the prosperity gospel. I don't believe in it. I DO know that God wants us to be free of debt, and live within our means, and, well, have money, but I don't believe in the whole - God wants - you- to- have- lots -of -money,- and- live- like- Donald -Trump- Gospel. I just want money to buy a few things, and still have some over by the end of the month. I try to tithe, but to be honest, I don't always. I think I have talked about this before, so I won't digress about it again here.

This past wk in our Bible Study, we talked about Fear. I fear. A lot. Mainly in the what ifs, and in the unknowns. I don't like not knowing. I don't like what ifs. I don't now what God has in store. I fear that things will get worse. I fear that kids will never happen for us (actually, I really don't think they will), I fear that I will get some other medical ailment, or that hubby will. I fear that this is "as good as it gets". We haven't moved since we got married. In some ways, I feel very stagnant. Other than getting a new car, and going to school, we are pretty much the same (in the same place) as when we got married.

Sometimes, I feel so done. With life. With God. With our marriage. With people. With Facebook/blogging. I just want to go and live on an island somewhere. Alone. Well, maybe with a good book. I feel that people don't get me (us). They say things like (and I s"Aay things about us, too, "just work harder", "look for more work/another job." "Just work at whatever job (in my career) you get, so it can go on your resume"."Be glad you don't have kids, they just cost money, and they are too much work". " You don't have the money to have kids". "You shouldn't have a cat, if you can barely afford yourselves". "Just adopt." "Foster or foster to adopt". "Go on disability". "Go and move up north (or other parts of BC/Canada). "Get a new car (or fix the one you have)". Ok, we should fix our car.

And sometimes, I feel so alone. And sometimes, I don't have want to talk to people.  Because no one knows or understands or situation. So, I tend to not want to get out, or if I do, I go alone.  Sometimes, I will avoid Bible Study, or church, or ladies coffee.  When I try to speak; to tell my woes (as everyone does) I feel that people don't understand. So, I tend not to say anything. I tend to retreat.

I listen a lot of Christian music, since I work at a Christian book store. I listen to these songs. Yes, I can be (and am) encouraged by them, but at times, I wonder if this is all true? I listen/read stuff on the net. I read books, or read/hear/see testimonies, on how and what God is doing (or did) in their life. Do you have to live a life of sin before coming to Jesus to have exciting things happen to you? Wow! Where do I sign up? I am sorry that I grew up a Christian, and had a good life, and did what I was taught (most of the time). Now what? I was on Twitter the other day, on Angie Smiths page. Her sister, Emily Freeman wrote a book, called "A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art you were Made to Live". I saw the YT introduction, and while I thought it was a good intro (and probably a good book), I tweeted to Angie something like "sure this is easy to say and do if your life is going perfect." She then said I could email her. Which I think I will. But anyway, back to my point. There all these books. CD's, etc on saying on how wonderful God is, and while I KNOW and still LOVE God, I am finding it hard to believe these days. Sure, it is easy to love God, and to say and do all these things when you have money, and/or your life is perfect. Is it easy to say you love God when you only have a few dollars left in the bank? Or when you are living on pasta (thankfully, we aren't there quite yet..lol).  It is easy to write books when your life is perfect, and you have money. It is easy to write books about how God has helped/saved/restored you when/after you have lived through it. It is easy to write books on courting and marriage. AFTER you tie the knot, and are happily married. It is easy to write books on infertility. AFTER you have adopted and had (surprise!) two or three kids of your own. It is easy (ok, easier..I will be sensitive here) to talk publicly about abortion/still birth/the death of a child when you are a national Christian Speaker, and are wanted by everyone and asked to talk at numerous events. Nothing sad like that has happened to me? Can God use someone like me? Jesus, I am SCREAMING at you. Help me! Help us!

I know this is a depressing (but oh so real) post. Back to happy posts tomorrow. Promise :)

Would ya'll like a picture for TT? Sure you would!

Just Gramma and Me. I was probably about 10 or 11 here.