J9's Property

I'm in serious count-down mode!

I get to completely escape from life this weekend!

I'm not sure how many people know just how much I'm into scrapbooking. I tend to spend a rather silly amount of money on tools and supplies, but I love the challenge of putting a lay-out together, finding just the right colours and embellishments to go with a certain group of photos, finding just the right place for each piece of the "puzzle"...

A couple of ladies at my corps (that's "church" for the non-Sally-Ann-ers) introduced me to the "scrapping cabin" last year. It only took one experience and I was hooked! A bunch (ie. 35-40 or so) of scrapping ladies all get together at Jackson's Point (at the Salvation Army camp/conference center) and do nothing but scrap all weekend. No husbands, no kids, no Real Life... It's a blast! (and when I say scrap "all weekend", I'm not kidding - we regularly go until 2-3am before finally calling it a night, then start right back up at 9am!)

I'm sure there are those of you who are saying to yourselves at this point, "what in the world is so exciting about SCRAPBOOKING????" Well, it's not so much the scrapping (although that in itself can be a lot of fun and very satisfying), but it's the whole idea of hanging out with a whole lot of awesome people and having a TONNE of fun. I think I laughed the hardest I've ever laughed at last fall's cabin!

One of the great things about the Cabin is the completely relaxed and Christian atmosphere. There's so much camaraderie amongst us all, we really feel we can be ourselves - even though a lot of the women are strangers when we first get there! There's no gossiping, no back-biting, no cattiness that can sometimes define a "ladies weekend". Everyone is there to have a lot of fun and relaxation, and believe me, that's what we do!

One thing that I have noticed about these weekends, is that they always seem to come right when I need them the most. The last Cabin was last November, right after I had come through one of my more horrific months on memory, and the break from reality was just what I needed to re-charge. This weekend is no different. The last few weeks have been full of discouraging events, and this will be a much-needed escape from the "blahs" I've been fighting my way through. I need a good, long, gut-aching laugh! (and I'm certain I'll get more than one, if prior Cabin's have been any indication!)

Now, just one thing: don't expect to check this blog next week and find a lot of stories about the "antics" from the weekend, because there's just one rule that governs the Scrapping Cabin and its participants:

"What happens at the Cabin, STAYS at the Cabin!!"

(heehee, I can't wait!)

You know that very sinking feeling you get, when you've been on a very long journey, and you're sure you can see the finish line....and then find out it's only the half-way marker?

I'm there.

I thought we were almost done. Only a few things left to do.

I just found out how much we really have left to do.

I feel exhausted just thinking about it.

I'm at that point where I have to keep reminding myself to TRUST. God know's what He's doing, and He knows when He wants us where. But it's not easy right now, I want what I want, and I want it now!!

I hate waiting.

But God keeps reminding me to trust Him, not myself.

It will all work out the way it's supposed to.

Maybe if my head says that enough times, my heart will start to believe it....

...since I actually wrote anything on this blog. But, to be honest, I just haven't felt like writing.

It's not that I don't have anything to write about, I just haven't had the motivation, and for that matter, the words, to write it all down.

There have actually been times when I've thought that I'd like to write something on here, but then I decide no.....not really sure why, I just sit and find other things to do. Like play Scrabulous, or Sudoku, or browse Facebook...

At one point, I was considering writing down here everything I've been discovering in my bible study. My take on Galatians. The various interesting tid-bits I've been coming across in my research.

But then, I decide no....it's too much effort, and I'll just end up getting behind.

Maybe I just have too much going on -- trying to (FINALLY!) get this house on the market, taking CIP courses, practicing for Marked By Love engagements,......

Or maybe I'm just scared to start writing because I might post something I'll regret.

It hasn't been a particularly pleasant spring so far, and I hate being negative on here. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The last thing I want is for this blog to become the place where I vent all my negative thoughts for all the world to see! Who wants to read that kind of negativity??

And so, I will follow that old piece of advice: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

Hopefully I'll start writing on here more, and hopefully I'll start posting more photos on my photo blog.

But, until then, I'll just keep on keeping up, keep the positive thoughts flowing, and see where the rest of this spring takes me.

I'm bad.

I'm very bad.

Always have been.

Probably always will be.

My self-control when it comes to anything chocolate is seriously lacking!

A good friend of mine recently blogged about her love of sweets. It really made me think of my own weakness for all things chocolate.

Like Kat, I too have a serious mouth-ful of sweet teeth. I'll always appreciate desserts, I love lots of maple syrup on my pancakes or french toast, I enjoy caramel flavouring in my coffee, and all sorts of confections. My first love, however, will always be chocolate! I think every dessert recipe I make has some form of chocolate in it, be it the chocolate chips, the chocolate pudding mix, the chocolate sauce....

I think I can honestly say, I've never met a chocolate I didn't like!

So, how do I combat it? It's not easy, let me tell you!

I've actually been pretty good at disciplining myself when I'm in the grocery store. Only buying that which I need for meals, passing by the bakery and the cookie isles...I'm usually pretty successful in getting up to the check-out counter without a lot of junk in my basket.

So, where does it all come from?...

Christmas is a bad time for me where chocolate is concerned. Most gifts we get from acquaintances are in the form of some sort of chocolate. And, when chocolate is in the house, it calls to me....saying, "eat me!"......and I can't resist. I usually justify it by saying, "the sooner I eat it, the sooner it's gone, and the sooner I can get back to staying away from it!"....which usually results in some serious chocolate binging.

My dear hubby doesn't help. He has a sweet tooth or two himself. If he goes into a grocery store, he invariably comes out with whatever baked goods happened to be on sale that day.

Work used to be somewhat of a sanctuary. Until they put in the vending machines in the lunch room. Then they put in coffee machines in the kitchenettes, which dispense some very lovely hot chocolate.

Argh.

I don't think a lot of people take it seriously when I refer to chocolate as an addiction. But I have to confess, the behaviours associated with my chocolate habits are very close to addiction! When it's in front of me, I can't help but reach for it. Once I start, I often can't stop myself until I'm actually feeling ill. I've replaced meals with chocolate bars, I've fought small children for the last chocolate-chip cookie, I've even been desperate enough to raid certain tupperware containers of chocolate chips... (sorry, mom)... and I still haven't out-grown it.

Time for a chocolate intervention?

Just don't steal my stash of chocolate chipits....

There's so much of it around these days.

The pain of a lost child...

The pain of a broken relationship...

The pain of ongoing conflict...

The pain of loneliness and depression...

It's everywhere. And I dare say there isn't a single person we interact with who isn't feeling some pain on some level.

There seems to be a perception out there that Christians should not be in pain. They should always be happy and joyful, because Jesus has taken away our sins, so there should be no pain to feel. If we are feeling pain, it's because our faith isn't strong enough, or because we're being punished for something....

BULLCRAP.

Christ's death and resurrection may have paid the price for our sins, and allow us to approach The Throne and accept the Mercy and Grace made available to us, but it doesn't mean we won't experience pain. We will still endure hardship, we will still suffer pain.

The difference is, we can lean on Him in our times of pain, and He can help us deal with the source of the pain. Being a Christian doesn't mean we have a "magic pill" to take away the pain of life in this world, but it does mean we have a refuge, a place where we can cry out and find comfort, and the strength to continue in spite of the pain.

So many times, I hear the question, "why do bad things happen to good people?" It goes back to that quote from Rick Warren in The Purpose-Driven Life: "God's not concerned about our comfort, He's concerned about our character". Everything is a lesson. Everything is preparation for the work He wants us to do. And unfortunately, some of us have to learn the hard way.

How can we comfort a grieving mother, if we haven't lost a child ourselves? How can we minister to a divorcee, if we haven't gone through the pain of separation/divorce ourselves? How can we understand the pain of unrelenting depression, if we haven't experienced it ourselves? Even God subjected Himself to the human experience, so He knows what we are going through. So many times, we'll look back on our times of pain, and realize that the experience prepared us for what was to come, and we'll find purpose in what initially appeared to be a meaningless horror.

I know it doesn't help to hear this when you're in the midst of unbearable pain. In fact, it's usually the last thing you want to hear. You just want the pain to stop, for things to seem "normal" again, for it all to just go away. And I can say that, because I've been there.

But we have the ultimate Shoulder to cry on. Even when we don't have the words, and just cry out, the Holy Spirit prays for us. The Lord won't necessarily take our pain away, but He will wrap His arms around us, quiet our souls, and give us the strength to endure. And just like that old "Footprints" poem, when we can't go any further on our own, He will pick us up, and carry us.

Life isn't supposed to be painless.

But it shouldn't be hopeless, either.

It's interesting to see the number (and variety) of debates you can find when the Christmas season rolls around.

Take, for example, the endless debate of the artificial versus the real Christmas Tree.

(and yes, it's a Christmas Tree, not a "Holiday Tree"....don't get me started on that one)

Me, I've always had a real one. Preferrably a White Pine, the one with the long, soft needles. Very pretty with a nice set of white lights on it, the whole tree seems to glow when you turn them on.

A lot of people opt for the artificial route. I have heard many reasons for this: less mess, less maintenance, less over-all concern especially if there are little ones and pets underfoot.

If these are your reasons, I can't say I blame you. A real tree does require regular waterings if you want it to stay looking nice through the holidays. Regular waterings also help to keep the tree relatively fire-resistant. Some trees are messier than others, although I have to say the the White Pines we get tend to be fairly clean - not a lot of needle-shed. And if the tree does get knocked over, there is the issue of the water on the floor/carpet/whatever it's sitting on.

But as far as I'm concerned, the extra effort is worth it! Yes, artificial trees are getting nicer and nicer (and more expensive!), but in my book, nothing compares to a real tree. It's become a tradition for all of us Rayments to make the trek out to the tree farm every year for the Great Christmas Tree Hunt. And when you get the freshly cut tree into the house, you can smell the nice, (real!) pine scent in your living room...

Now, there is one argument against real trees that I really can't understand. It's the environmental argument. Apparently, there are many who advocate artificial trees as being preferable for the environment, because you're not cutting down a tree (and therefore denuding the natural world for your own decoration), and you're not putting a tree into the landfills every year.

If you are of the opinion that artificial trees are better for the environment, I invite you to consider the following points:

1. No harmful chemicals, man-made materials, or pollution were used or produced in the manufacturing of my tree. OK, with the exception of the odd pesticide. But other than that, my tree is made entirely of natural fibres.

2. The tree I cut down was grown on a tree farm, for the specific purpose of being cut down and used as a Christmas Tree. Also, every time I cut down a Christmas tree, the tree farmer plants another one in it's place. It seems to me that one of the big "environmentally conscious" things to do, is to go out to a clear cut area and plant saplings to replace the trees harvested by the lumber industry. I'm only cutting down one tree a year, and it is immediately replaced by the owner of the tree farm.

3. When I am finished with my tree, it is 100% biodegradable. While, yes, it may take up space in a landfill, it will break down as naturally as any other tree in a forest which has died of natural causes. Let me ask you: what happens to all those artificial trees when they aren't so nice-looking anymore, or are just plain out-of-style? How well do they break down in a landfill? If they are "recycle-able", how much pollution is produced by the recycling plant in the recycling process?

I couldn't believe it when I actually read an article about having a "green Christmas" (read that, "environmentally friendly" Christmas), and it actually encouraged people to buy artificial trees. In my opinion, the environmentally friendly thing to do is to buy a real tree from a tree farmer. The uses for the tree when you are done are numerous: mulch, firewood, crafts, to name just a few, and the whole process is entirely natural.

If you prefer an artificial tree because you have littles ones or pets, or you simply can't care for a real tree, then I won't argue with you. That's a case of personal preference, and I have no problem with that.

But if you try to tell me that having an artificial tree is the environmentally friendly thing to do, be prepared for an argument.

Because unlike my tree, your arguments just don't hold water.

My neck and shoulder hurt.

I've come down with my first cold of the season.

And I have to write a 3-hour final exam on Wednesday!!!

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!