Second Anniversay

Today we thank and give glory to God for two sweet year of marriage. It's so sweet to walk with Christ alongside the love of your life, spurring one another toward love and good deeds. My husband has far exceeded anything I could have desired in a husband, and to God be the glory, because I see Him shaping Shawn's character and love for me each day.

A servant leader you are my love - continually learning from the greatest servant leader of all, the Lord Jesus Christ himself. It's a joy to be your wife, to be under your loving leadership and protection. Thank you for loving me as Christ loves his Church.

Mom's visit for Shawn's grad & Tania's Bday!

We recently had the pleasure of hosting my mom in Calgary for the first time since we moved here almost 2 years ago. She experienced some truly Calgarian weather - everything from "let's wear shorts" to" it's snowing again"...aaah, that's Calgary I've learned.

Mom was so sweet to come down and celebrate Shawn's graduation recital, Shawn's graduation, and my 26th birthday. She arrived Wednesday at noon, and after picking her up from the airport, we went out for Vietnamese vermacellie. We then took a nap before putting the last touches on the 5 or so pounds of shredded bbq pork that we were going to feed Shawn's band for dinner (3 batches and 21 hours of crockpotting, we were ready to feed the crew of 20).

So Wednesday afternoon we headed out for the grad recital, which was absolutely fantastic. Shawn recruited and organized all the musicians, transcribed music, arranged hymns, lead rehearsals, and so much more. Months of hard work paid off, as we enjoyed a wonderful performance. Over 90 people showed up to the recital - it was very exciting, and I was so glad my mom was able to be there. I'm so proud of Shawn, and can't wait to see him flourish even more in serving God in music.

Thursday morning my mom and I headed out to the mountains - Canmore than Banff. In Banff we road the gondala up Sulphur Mountain. We enjoyed what view there was left - heavy fog and snow was rolling in. We enjoyed some tea and conversation in the restaurant at the top of the mountain. We headed down for lunch where I introduced my mom to Greek food. We shopped around and headed back to Calgary for dinner time.

This mother-daughter tip couldn't be complete without some shopping, which we did for half a day on Friday. We only got through half of the gigantic new mall outside of Calgary.

Saturday was graduation day. We proudly watched Shawn get his diploma. So proud of my hubby for going back to school and working so hard to get degree. We praise and thank God for the resources he has provided to pay for schooling loan-free! After the graduation ceremony, we continued the celebration at Shawn's parents house where his mom prepared a lovely brunch. After brunch we took my mom for a drive to see some scenery and buffalo. The snow was coming in again, but we made the most of it.

Sunday we went to church - we were excited to introduce my mom to our church family who we love so much. After church Our families and a few of our dear friends enjoyed brunch at Mother Tucker's for my birthday. It was awesome to have my mom there with all my friends and Shawn's family.

Thank you mom for coming to visit. We had a wonderful time with you.

Prayer Tools

I realized at the beginning of this past year and into the new year that my prayer life was pretty undisciplined. It's just something that comes a little harder for me. I was so grateful to come across two tools that have been such a blessings in spurring on my prayer life. The first is this website - Matthew Henry's Method for Prayer. I, and now my husband too, LOVE using this website. The site goes through various prayer focuses - adoration, confession, petition, thankgiving, intercesion, and more. The prayers are formed directly from passages of scripture, so you are confident that you are indeed praying the will of God! I love it, especially the adoration part where you get to praise God for his attributes - for who HE has revealed himself to be.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God; Psalm 90:2(ESV) the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8(ESV)

Another tool that I have found helpful in reminding me to consistently pray for family, friends, government, etc is prayer cards. This was my sweet husband's idea that I copied. I have different prayer (index) cards for Mon-Friday, in which I list seven people/things I want to intercede for. I didn't do ones for Sat. and Sun, because knowing me I will get behind on one of the other 5 days, so I appreciate the extra 2 days to catch up.

Hope you can benefit from these tools too, as we seek to confidently approach the throne of God. That we can even approach His holy presence should keep us always in awe.

Christmas joy, wedding bliss, and baby miracle!

Shawn and I were blessed with the opportunity to spend two entire weeks visiting family in Houston over Christmas. The weekend after we arrived we were blessed to see my brother marry his college sweetheart Veronica. We enjoyed a beautiful wedding in the company of dozens of family members from Mexico and various parts of the U.S.
After Christmas much of the family that had come to join us for the wedding had returned to their homes, which mean that my parent's home went from 20 or so people to 5. A bit of a drastic change to the social atmosphere, but we didn't mind the rest and quiet after we got used to it. And we got to sleep in a bed, now that they were available!

So with most family gone and not a whole lot we wanted to do in town, Shawn and I developed an obsession with scrabble (we have to admit that we are still playing it 1 or 2 - or more- times a week!). Pretty soon we had my dad and mom joining the fun. It was also one of the highlites of our New Year's Eve Party- I know, pretty lame.

The two weeks also allowed us to hang out lots with my dear friend Lydia - I even convinced her to come to my family's New Year's Eve party. She is such a good sport. We enjoyed scrabble with her as well, as well as some other weird games (I already forgot the name - I just remember it had something to do with rolling little pig figurines).

Toward the end of the trip, we were happy share in my tia's (aunt's) good news that after lots and lots of waiting and visits to fertility specialist, she and her husband are having a baby!! This news came after a few weeks (not sure about the time?) of her mustering up the guts to ask her pastor to pray for God to bless her with a child. There is so much more to this story that make it a sweet miracle - I am not at liberty to share more, but suffice to say that the God's timing was perfect. We were so blessed to have been able to be there when the news was unveiled!

So now we are back home, looking forward to another year of growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are part of a wonderful church family at Calvary Grace Church...We anticipate each Sunday with great gratitude for how we will be equipped through the ministry of God's Word to serve and love Christ.

Tobogganing Date

Shawn and I go on a date each Sunday. Today we decided to go on a toboganning date. Before moving to Calgary I had never heard of a tobogan, so for all my friends down south, a tobogan is a "sled-like" plastic thing you sit on and slide down snowy hills. You can lay on it like you would a boogie-board and go down the hill that way as well. Enjoy the video and pictures of my first toboganning experience. It was lots of fun, but the climb back up the hill was grueling - I kept sinking into snow up to my knees. Needless to say one climb back up the hill was enough for me. Exhaustion and freezing fingers and face can end the fun really quick (it was - 18 degrees Celcius today). It was nice to end the date with a little Starbucks and reading of The Truth of the Cross by R.C Sproul. Great book.

Creative Christmas Wrapping

Know all those cute Christmas catalogs you get from Macy's (US) or The Bay (Canada) or wherever else -all trying hard to get you to buy lots of stuff you don't really need? Well, don't waste those precious advertising dollars, use the catalogs to wrap your Christmas presents. Tie a pretty ribbon and your done. I also used some magazines and other random inserts I found in the newspaper.

Treasuring CHRISTmas

As the Christmas season started, I found myself getting quickly stressed about buying gifts, busy schedules, getting ready for 2 weeks in Texas, etc. This saddened me because I wanted to savor and treasure the season for its true meaning: the coming of Christ, Immanuel - God with us! I realized from the blogs of other women that I wasn't alone in this dilema. I love how Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters have chosen to approach the season. They write in their girl talk blog how they have chosen to "sit out" the season, meaning to take time to "sit at the feet of Jesus" in the midst of the busyness of the season. Much like Mary, who in contrast to her sister Martha, was not too preoccupied with hosting and other preparations to listen to the words of Christ (Luke 10:39). This, Jesus said, was "the one thing that was necessary."

This Christmas season, I have resolved to not get stressed, to not care that I get the "perfect" gifts for people, to not care that I make every Christmas party. That's not what its about. It's about the seeing "the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14b) That's what I want people to see and find joy in this Christmas.

While Jess was here she reminded me of the great advice that so many of the women at her church post on their lovely blogs. I started catching up on some of these blogs and was inspired to make an action plan to really make Christmas about Christ. My little action plan (every developing - send me ideas please) looks like this:

1. Purchase/Make simple gifts for friends and family - take the focus of "stuff," so there's room to focus on Christ.
2. Do an Advent (4 weeks leading up to Christmas) study with my husband. These are two that were recommended on these so said blogs (thanks Heather Hendrick and Kendra Duty). I love the study we're doing because it includes singing (learning in some cases) old Christmas hymns. I love one of Heather's ideas of inviting friends over for dinner or dessert and having them share in your advent study for that day.
   
3. Complete shopping for "simple" gits by the first weekend of December. Next year, I'm aiming for Nov. 1st!
4. Making a Christmas/Year-end donation to those ministries that have helped us grow spiritually and treasure Christ more this past year.
   

There is more I would like to do, but I'm afraid with work and taking care of my home that would defeat my purpose of resolving not to get stressed out this Christmas.

I hope you too can treasure and find much joy in celebrating Advent and Christmas this year.