Incendiary

finally a new post:)

2006-01-16T09:43:00.000-05:00

I know it's been ages, and I sincerely apologize! For some reason I always find something else to do...but I'm here now. So life since Christmas and New Year's. Well I'm back at school and because all but one of my classes are year long I already have essays and projects due this week and next. Yikes! I'm actually getting a head start on these assignments, last semester I was up too late working on assignments a bit too often. So no more "almost all nighters" this semester.

God is so good, I've finally gotten the last part of the immigration package finished which is a huge thing for Josh and I! So praise God for that:) He is so good to us and I am continually amazed at how He shows me His love. He has been revealing Himself in many new ways to me the past month and I love sitting in His presence and not having to do anything but enjoy His love. The other day I listened to the song "Your Love is extravagant" and that is so true...it is unashamedly extravagant for us!

I received a CD for Christmas that I have been listening to over and over again, it's called "Hymns Ancient and Modern," and I absolutely love hearing hymns...the words in them are so powerful! It's been amazing how much God speaks to me through songs written in worship of Him a couple hundred years ago. I love how our God is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Josh and I got to have some friends over the other night for dinner, it was great sitting back and laughing. Laughter is so good for us! We were talking about the silliest (most silly? I should look it up in a dictionary!) things and I think it's great when you can be comfortable enough around to people to say stupid things and know they will laugh with you rather than at you. After our friends left we watched "The Great Muppet Caper," and since then I've been impersonating Fozzie Bear--it's been great!

God is so good! His love is extravagant and He has given us all authority "over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness" (Matt. 10:1). I love it, overwhelming victory is ours!

oh christmas tree

2005-12-12T15:38:00.000-05:00

Well everyone, we decided to take the plunge. Josh and I bought the cheapest Christmas tree we could find and used the decorations from Cindy (that's Josh's mom if anyone doesn't know) to make our little tree beautiful! I personally love it, but that's because it sparkles:) So I thought I'd share a few pics with you...I know they aren't as good as Jamo's, but I like them!
I was thinking about what my favourite ornament was when I was little, and it was a wooden ornament of a house with snow on the house and trees around it. What was your favourite or still is your favourite? Better yet, what's your favourite thing about the season...not simply Christmas but the whole season of December and January?

I hope you're all doing well! Love you!

elegy to blue kettle

2005-12-08T15:49:00.000-05:00

Oh kettle, you served me so well
Tea, hot chocolate, soup, and coffee
No longer will you sing your song
That whistle died because I was gone

Oh kettle, only time will tell
If I will find another kettle for me
To sing a song and whistle along
And serve me again tea all day long

Oh kettle, I didn't deserve you
Your shiny handle and bright blue body
Now you're injured and singed
Because my brain unhinged

Please forgive me kettle, I meant no harm
It was only an accident since I lent an arm
To help a dear friend hang some photos
Now I'm paying dearly with my nose

Good bye dear kettle, I'll miss you so
So long, farewell.

first snow

2005-11-18T16:42:00.000-05:00

"As long as the earth remains there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night." Genesis 8:22

I am so thankful that God created different seasons...because I love the variety, and I love snow (during the first 2 months). It is so great to know that when change (initiated by God) comes it brings life. Like is says in Ecclesiastes "there is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven." Isn't it great that God creates a time for everything in our lives and that there are seasons for whatever we are doing? I love how God works:) Some seasons are a bit more painful than others, but in the end life is produced...as long as we are hearing and listening to the Holy Spirit.

Sorry for the tangent, but I love it when God uses His nature to speak to me...It is so much fun! I know it isn't much, but I wanted to take a picture before it became dark (or the snow melted). So this is the outside of our house and the backyard during the first snowfall. The snow was so pretty falling straight down...I love it! The pictures aren't as beautiful as Jamo's, but I thought it would be fun for everyone to see the outside area of our living quarters:) Hehe. I can't wait to build snowmen,have snowfights,and mhmm sit in a warm house and watch the snow fall! So bring it on:) After a hot summer I'm ready for some change.

covenant relationships

2005-11-12T16:18:00.000-05:00

Last weekend God spoke to me about covenant relationships. Josh and I, along with Caleb and Alix, went down to Grand Rapids for a couple days and in the midst of a busy weekend, spent Saturday night with our former GAP team members. There were eight of the ten members present and God moved amongst us. Although it had been over a year and a half since we had all been in the same room, we seemed to carry on as if no time had passed. It is a strange phenomenon to hang out with people who have matured and grown, but feel as if nothing has actually changed. That is what it was like. It was amazing because by the time the evening ended (which was in the early hours of the morning), God had clearly spoken to all of us about the importance of having Christ as the absolute centre of every individuals heart. It became clear to us why we were able to pick up where we left off despite the growth and maturing that brought about changes in our lives. We realized that when our eyes are fixed on Jesus and we are living passionately for him, there is bond created between people that cannot be broken.

its been a while...but here's why...

2005-10-25T16:18:00.000-04:00

I know most of you are probably worried sick because of my extended absence from the blogging world, but have no fear April is back! (I was going to say April is near.. but that didn't really relate to my point) Anyway, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. I've handed in two research papers, two essays, two assignments, and taken a test in the past two weeks. Although I enjoy school, I don't enjoy 4 hour sleeps every night.

Outside of the realm of school we've been pretty busy. This past weekend my aunt and uncle came up for a visit. It was so wonderful to see them, and show them around Toronto. I enjoy showing friends and family around Toronto, because I love the city and I love having people come see the environment in which I'm living at the moment. So here are my Aunt Marge, Uncle Tim, and my cousins Serena and Trent.

That was on Friday night. On Saturday and Sunday we were with the church in Toronto for an "in the city" retreat weekend. It was so much fun relaxing, fellowshiping, eating, and seeking God together. I had a great time, and learned loads from the people who brought the word to us. Here is a picture of the group, and pictures of really cute babies:)

This is Ella Dummitt and Nicholas Tripp, they were born three weeks apart.

And here the three "older boys."

There are two little girls in the group, but they were hiding from my camera:)

So that was this past weekend. Yesterday was Josh's birthday, so his whole family plus Matt Clark came to our place to celebrate. It was super fun! And, as usual, here is a picture. As you can see, Cindy and I were a little outnumbered.

Well, I'm feeling pretty much caught up on my own life now...I am so thankful that despite how busy I can get that I am always walking with the Holy Spirit, and that it is in him that I draw my strength:)

essays and dishes

2005-10-06T16:34:00.000-04:00

Yay! School is done for the week. I shouldn't really be that excited because I only had two days this week, but still, yay! Thanksgiving is this weekend (well the Canadian Thanksgiving) and I am ready to eat some good food. Although Josh and I are married we are still students, which means the food is still pretty "student-ish," and any large portions of meat and vegetables is definitely welcome:) Despite my two days off, Tuesday and Wednesday, I worked on my French project (that was due today) the whole time.

So, about school, next week I have an essay, a test, and two assignments due, and somehow, despite all of my heroic efforts to have one of them done by today...I have none done, and only one started. Yikes! But, by the end of this night I should be pretty deep into my essay...I know what you are all thinking, man I wish I could spend all Thursday night working on an essay, please --jealousy is not a good thing. (I hope you all know that was a very sarcastic sentence). Anywho! Praise God that I don't have to do this on my own, because "I can do all this through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13). I'm so thankful that I don't draw upon my own strength, because that would definitely result in failure:)

In the cleanliness department, I hired a little fairy who goes around cleaning and doing dishes...she wears an odd pair of pink gloves with fur trim...I'm a little curious about the gloves, but other than she is great at keeping things tip top. Speaking of which, I better go do the dishes.

i'm back...with more pictures

2005-09-27T20:30:00.000-04:00

So, it has been a while since I updated my blog. I apologize to the many people who (like myself) curiously check everyone's blog on a daily basis eagerly expecting something new, but haven't found any new updates. I thought I would show/describe what has been taking up the time that I once had. This thing is called school, and it has been a couple crazy weeks getting back into the swing of things. A week and a half into school Josh's grandpa died, which was really sad and we spent the weekend in Peterborough to go to the wake and funeral. Immediately following that emotional weekend, I came down with a sinus infection, and just this week I have felt full of energy again. To do the things I love, such as, school work, email, update blog, hang out with people, and all that good stuff! Here are a few pics of my school and the way I get to school:) I hope you enjoy, I almost had too much fun taking the pictures...

This is the main building at York, it is the "front" of the campus.

This is the lawn in front of the main building, ah prettiness:)

This is the bus that takes me to and from the subway station.

Yay, inside the subway car. The subway is above ground in this part, it's usually below.

This is where I get off to go home. It's a five minute walk from this subway stop.

I hope I haven't completely bored you, but I thought it would be fun to see what a "day in the life of April" is like. It's not too exciting, but this is what has been keeping busy lately. God is good, all the time!

"gods amongst mortals" -Nat Best

2005-09-13T20:02:00.000-04:00

Gwyneth Paltrow came over to sign some autographs....

There were some really freaky screams when Jake Gyllenhal came out.

I think this police officer is having way too much fun on the job, look at this smile:)

As most of you have probably seen, Josh, Caleb, Nat and I went to several premier showings at the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday. Last night Josh and I went to see the stars at the premier of "Proof," the new movie with Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhal, and Gwyneth Paltrow. As I was squished in the crowd of screaming girls (and some boys), I thought about what Nat had said on Saturday when Anthony Hopkins emerged from his car, "gods amongst mortals." It was fun to see people that one usually only sees in pictures up close, but after the fact these people are just people, and I began to think about how different generations worship or idolize certain things. It seems to me that the way celebrities are glorified today is an aspect of idolatry in this generation. I like seeing famous people myself, and get a rush out of it, however, after this weekend my mind has been mulling over the book of Ecclesiastes, and what it has to say about life without Jesus, "I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after the wind." I am so grateful for the purpose we have in Christ, and so honoured to be a part of what He is building. So overall, after being around some stars this weekend, like Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Shue, Anthony Hopkins, ..., which was completely fun and exciting, I am humbled. I am not humbled by being around celebrities, rather than by knowing that God wants to use me for His purpose, and that His purpose far exceeds anything else that has been built or will be built by man.

our apartment, for all of you good people to see

2005-09-09T23:38:00.000-04:00

The view through the door, our kitchen:)

My favourite part of the kitchen, it's so pretty:)
Our yellow bathroom, it wakes us up in the mornings!

Our "French dining room" (more like nook)

Our living area, computer, tv, books, map, pictures, pillows, well you get the idea:)
The bed part of our BEDroom
The rest of our bedroom
Well I hope you enjoyed the tour of our apartment:)

i succumb

2005-09-09T14:58:00.000-04:00

So I have finally joined the "blog side," as Caleb put it. I hope you all enjoy reading my posts and viewing my pictures. It's been a fun summer, and school has started. I am excited to be back, learning is awesome! Haha. So, read on fellow bloggers and non-bloggers alike, I hope it tickles your fancy in some way.