Merry Crithmath

Here are some highlights from our trip home for Christmas so far!
Me and my more than wonderful sister Jalen.

Mom, Jay, Me, Brig - new christmas jammies!

Meggy and I at the Giant's game - it is so good to be back home at the same time!

My Grandma Saip and my Dad

Kyle, Dave, and Gatlin at Jay and Kyle's Engagement Party

the call to be kind

Well although it has been an event-filled week, I have not put the time aside to blog about it until now. For the last month and a half, I have been rehearsing and preparing, along with a few others, for an upcoming Christmas-variety-drama-music-night. It has been a fantastic way to meet people from our new church, and I was so grateful to be a part of it. We had the performance tonight, and despite the -30 weather (gotta love Sask winters!) there was a full crowd. We will be heading back to Tsawwassen for Christmas on Friday - the days can't pass quickly enough! - so this was our last church-do until we return. It was a great night!

Over the course of getting ready for the program, I was able to connect with a lot of the people from the church who I might not have had the chance of getting to know otherwise.
There is one lady in particular, her name is Barbara, and I have honestly come to really love her in this short amount of time. She is unlike most people, extremely open and welcoming, always reading right where people are at, and offering up the most poignant pieces of advice and wisdom even despite not knowing people all that well. I really admire her honesty and loving approach to others. Sometimes when I meet people like that I feel as though I owe them something -like they are this way only for acknowledgment or for something in return- but I have seen just the opposite from Barbara. My step-dad always used to give my siblings and I this challenge: Are you kind when NO ONE is watching?
I still think back on that challenge today. often. I want to be the type of person who is kind for the sake of it. Not because I will benefit, but because others will. Just a thought!

Out of Touch for Christmas

We had our new small group over for a Christmas Party tonight. The theme was 'Out of Touch'.

Here is the evidence....

Painting and Snow

We decided, due to our entire apartment having white walls, that painting our white furniture black would be a good contrast for the dismal abiss of white that is our place. So here it is!

And here is the finished product!

And there it is! a little facelift for our furniture. I would still like to paint the walls at some point, but Dave isn't so keen. We'll see what happens...

We also had a snowfall this week - and the weather suddenly took a turn for the ultra-cold...I think it's minus 15 today. Needless to say we miss the Vancouver rain.

Tomorrow is my work Christmas Party, and then we are hosting an 'Out of Touch' Christmas Party for our new small group on Sunday Night. So expect more pictures soon! :)

December is here!

My wonderful sister sent this in an email to me a little while ago. I thought I should share it!

IT’S CHRISTMAS NIGHT
It's Christmas night. The house is quiet. Even the crackle is gone from the fireplace. Warm coals issue a lighthouse glow in the darkened den. Stockings hang empty on the mantle. The tree stands naked in the corner. Christmas cards, tinsel, and memories remind Christmas night of Christmas day.
It's Christmas night. What a day it has been! Spiced tea. Santa Claus. Cranberry sauce. "Thank you, so much." "You shouldn't have!" "Grandma is on the phone." Knee-deep wrapping paper. "It just fits." Flashing cameras. It's Christmas night. The girls are in bed. Jenna dreams of her talking Big Bird and clutches her new purse. Andrea sleeps in her new Santa pajamas. It's Christmas night. The tree that only yesterday grew from soil made of gifts, again grows from the Christmas tree stand. Presents are now possessions. Wrapping paper is bagged and in the dumpsite. The dishes are washed and leftover turkey awaits next week's sandwiches.
It's Christmas night. The last of the carolers appeared on the ten o'clock news. The last of the apple pie was eaten by my brother-in-law. And the last of the Christmas albums have been stored away having dutifully performed their annual rendition of chestnuts, white Christmases, and red-nosed reindeer.
It's Christmas night.
The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I'm awake. I'm kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed. The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stop watches and weapons. We stepped off our racetracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.
It's the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips. And the result? For a few precious hours our heavenly yearnings intermesh and we become a chorus. A ragtag chorus of longshoremen, Boston lawyers, illegal immigrants, housewives, and a thousand other peculiar persons who are banking that Bethlehem's mystery is in reality, a reality. "Come and behold him" we sing, stirring even the sleepiest of shepherds and pointing them toward the Christ-child.
For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty. All of a sudden he's everywhere. In the grin of the policeman as he drives his paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.
In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children. In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer. He's in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas. He's in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes. And he's in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings "Away in a Manger." Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.
It's Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin -- lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half-price. Soon life will be normal again. December's generosity will become January's payments and the magic will begin to fade. But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that's why I'm still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can't help but linger on one fanciful thought: if he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?
Max Lucado

We have had a very eventful week! On Saturday night I had my first concert singing with Philly 5, Sunday we had a lunch out with the Dyck's and a get-together with friends, Tuesday afternoon we got the new kitty, and on Wednesday we had the absolutely exciting privilege of meeting Baby Isabelle Funston! A beautiful little girl born to our friends Brad and Samantha. (She is absolutely perfect!) Wednesday night I had rehearsal for the Christmas production I am a part of at our church, and today I was scrambling to get my paper done, taking Emilio to the vet, and making dinner for Dave and my cousin Benji. It's all done now, and I'm winding down with my best friend Diet Coke, watching my favourite Hockey team, beside my favourite person (yes, Dave), during my favourite season and realizing that it's only 3 weeks left until we come home for Christmas!
We are both very excited to be back in Vancouver - and especially for our trip away with family in the new year. My sister Jalen is engaged and her and her fiance Kyle will be around for the festivities - it will be so good to spend some time just doing girly things and soaking up the familiarity of our home town.
Now it's work work work this weekend...Goodnight and thanks for reading!

EMILIO: Our newER kitty. We wanted to get Wrigley a playmate so she wouldn't be lonely - and supposedly her rambuncious behaviour when we do come home would tone down. VERY true! I went to Humane Society on Tuesday and there he was - a little white 9 week old kitten that looked just like Cookie (my family's cat) when she was little. Just with shorter hair! My mom thought I was ridiculous to get another cat - but really, 2 isn't really different from one - and he's just so lovable. So, after some initial hissing at the new addition, Wrigley was in love, well cat-love. Which, as I've come to understand it, consists of a lot of cuddling and grooming one another... surprisingly similiar to humans now that I say that. Needless to say that it did the trick, and she hasn't so much as looked at the christmas tree (she was constantly climbing it before) and she barely even notices when we leave. Emilio is a very needy and cuddly little kitten, he practically wants to be sitting on your lap or picked up all day long. it's great.

We took him to the vet today, as I noticed he wasn't eating and he had begun to limp - so they checked him out and figured he had come up with a fever - so after getting a shot to take it down, he stopped shivering and slept it off this afternoon. Now he's back to eating and walking normally.


As for the name, that was Dave. If you've ever seen "A Night at the Roxbury" you will understand. I had the choice between Chet Steadman and Emilio... so naturally I chose what i did.


I feel like one of those weird cat ladies. But I really am quite content to be just that!



Dave took the pictures with his Blackberry, so they're a little blurry! Well, I took this one. :)

LAZY SUNDAY

Today is just that. After church we had lunch with Dave's side of the family - and picked up some much needed eggnog and scented candles to further the Christmas Spirit in our humble abode. We are heading to Phil and Stacey's tonight for a '24:Redemption' party - Not too thrilled about the impending addiction that will be 24, but I know I can't leave Jack Bauer on his own to save the world....so I will be offering my viewing support.

This picture was taken this past Thursday at Jared's studio. Very cool to be a part of an album - it's amazing how clear and defined your voice comes through the headphones - I am forever spoiled with these monitors!

Very exciting and new experience for me... definitely makes me want to put an album together with the family! One day...

Michelle took this picture when she was visiting with us a couple of weeks ago. This is Wrigley, the wonder cat. She is 5 and a half months old now, but still a pretty small kitty. She's quite ridiculous at times, and enjoys jumping all over the place and sleeping on our laps. She runs our house...and us. We love her!

My Christmas Favourites

I know it's a little early...

1) BAKING: Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

2) MOVIES:

Christmas Vacation

A Christmas Story

It's a Wonderful Life

3) SONGS:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

- James Taylor

Step into Christmas

- Elton John

Baby it's cold outside

- Natalie Cole and James Taylor

Last Christmas

- WHAM

I don't wanna spend one more Christmas

- NSYNC

Christmas Eve

- Celine Dion

Mary's Boy Child

- Boney M

I Celebrate the Day

- Relient K

4)DRINKS: Eggnog Lattes, Hot Apple Cider, Cranberry Punch

WHAT ARE YOUR CHRISTMAS FAVOURITES?

first things first

I'm as green as can be. So forgive me! I decided to take up this blogging-phenomenon upon reading some of my friends' blogs (thanks Michelle!), in hopes that I might be able to keep a current journal - as public as it is. So here I go.
Today was fantastically lazy and less-productive than I'd originally hoped, but turned out to be just what I needed. I am constantly plagued with the cold - so taking today to relax and get some school work done really seemed to help. Maybe it's only in my mind.

I had the amazing priviledge Yesterday of singing for an album in a recording studio! A very new experience for me, though I thought I adjusted quite well to the set-up and format within the studio. The artist I am singing back-up for is Phillip Simms - or Philly 5 - a fantastic R+B artist who I just had the pleasure of meeting last month. Him and his wife Stacey were introduced to Dave and I at a dinner party for a mutual friend's birthday, and the next time we saw them the album came out - along with my singing - and wham! there I am in the studio two days later. Crazy how God works. I am back to record some more and learn more about the album in the next couple of days. Phil has a concert at Joe's Place on Saturday night so I will be joining them for that as well! This is all very encouraging and exciting for me. I haven't had the opportunity to sing anywhere since the summer time, and I am really thankful for this.

Dave and Wrigley are sitting here on the couch beside me. Life is good.
Thank you for reading my blog, I will try and be consistent with this!